To mark World Poverty Day 2007, more than 43 million people stood up and spoke out against poverty and inequality. Almost 7,000 participated as part of an online mobilization through this website, supporting the call for increased investment in women to eradicate poverty worldwide.

As UNIFEM’s Ad Interim Executive Director Joanne Sandler stated on this occasion, “When women are afforded the equality of opportunity that is their basic human right, the potential for economic development is striking.” Yet, as Christine Grumm, President and CEO of the Women’s Funding Network pointed out, “Women remain the missing piece of the poverty puzzle.” Only with women and men on equal footing, do we stand a chance of ending poverty.

UNIFEM and the Women’s Funding Network would like to thank you for helping to make this unique partnership initiative such a success.

Why Women Matter

• The Issue: Women are the missing piece of the poverty puzzle
• The Challenge: Women are missing — and missing out
• The Solution: Investing in women
• Call to Action: Women’s potential must be recognized and realized