Discrimination against women and young people is hampering international efforts to eliminate poverty, a UN report said on October 12.
Each year more than 500,000 women die of pregnancy-related causes that are largely preventable while the poorest, least developed countries have the largest share of young people, according to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) report.
"Investing in women and young people is key to making poverty history," said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, executive director of the UNFPA, in an interview.
"If we don't invest in women's education and health and their ability to plan their family, we are not allowing them to be able to contribute to the economic sector."
Less than a month after leaders at a world summit pledged to battle global poverty, the UNFPA State of World Population 2005 report outlined the scale of the problem.
Despite laws in many countries to improve the lives of impoverished women and youth, Obaid said progress has been too slow.
"It is time to call for action to free women from discrimination, violence and poor health they face in their daily lives," Obaid told a news conference to launch the report.
"This will unleash the power of half of humanity to contribute to economic goals."
The report, which coincides with the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Charter that enshrined the equal rights of women and men, said a lack of access to family planning and reproductive health are closely linked to poverty and productivity.
Reproductive health problems, including HIV/AIDS, are a leading cause of death and illness in females between the ages of 15-44 world-wide.
But investing in health and education for women and youth could lead to smaller families, healthier, more literate children and lower rates of HIV/AIDS.
Although access to primary education has increased, only 69 percent of girls in south Asia and 49 percent in sub-Saharan Africa finish primary school.
The report also highlights the extent of violence inflicted on women, usually by a family member or acquaintance. About 1 in 3 women will experience physical, sexual or other abuses during their lifetimes, it said.
"This macho image of a man who has to be strong, who has to be violent and so on. That is basic to the whole issue of gender-based violence," Obaid said.
She acknowledged that eliminating gender discrimination and violence is a major mountain to climb, but added that if young girls and women are educated and healthy, economic opportunities will follow.
"World leaders will not make poverty history until they make gender discrimination history," Obaid added.
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