Connecting the Dots for Gender Equality and Empowerment

Global gender equality and empowerment are universally agreed upon goals and are widely considered critical across political affiliations in the United States. And yet, across the globe, women and girls continue to experience deep and persistent gender inequality, leaving many with fewer educational opportunities, lower income, less autonomy, and less political power compared to their male counterparts. 

In a new report from the Population Institute, Connecting the Dots: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights as Prerequisites for Global Gender Equality and Empowerment, authors demonstrate how gender equality and empowerment are directly impacted by the availability and accessibility of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services. Connecting the Dots emphasizes the need for the United States to increase its support for sexual and reproductive health and rights—both financially and politically – to make meaningful progress on advancing its global policy and programming priorities of achieving gender equality and empowerment worldwide.

Please join the Wilson Center’s Maternal Health Initiative, in collaboration with the Population Institute, for the official launch of the Connecting the Dots report’s findings and recommendations, followed by a panel discussion on the importance of increased financial and political support for sexual and reproductive health and rights to improve the health, wellbeing, education, political and community engagement, and safety and security of the world’s women and girls.