Women have the right to enjoy the highest attainable
standard of physical and mental health. Their enjoyment of this right is vital to their life and well-being
and their ability to participate in all areas of public and
private life.

Because women
are visible in the health-care
system both as caregivers
and as clients, there is a
widespread misperception
that health projects automatically address women’s
empowerment.

Gender gaps
in health status, in access and
use of health services, and in
health outcomes persist, signifying a need to address
gender inequality in health
sector reforms.
In many developing countries
the availability and quality of health care has been
further reduced because of the deterioration of public
health systems and the privatization of health-care
systems without appropriate guarantees of universal
access to affordable health care.

This situation not only
directly affects the health of girls and women, but also
places disproportionate responsibilities on women.
Their multiple roles, including their roles within the
family and the community, are often not acknowledged;
hence, they do not receive the necessary social, psychological, and economic support.