At the start of the 21st century more than a billion people are trapped in a situation of abject poverty and gross inequality. 70% of them are women. We face an AIDS and Malaria emergency, with 40 million people infected by the disease. 104 million children are denied access to school and 860 million adults. (70% of them women) cannot read or write.  Millions of people are unemployed or working in precarious jobs with deteriorating conditions of labour. 

Neither have a secure income to sustain their families. Children and young people make up half of the world’s population and suffer from the lack of inclusion and provision of basic services. Hunger is a daily reality for many.  In parts of the world, the death of mothers in childbirth and infant children are still routine - deaths that could be prevented by the availability of simple healthcare. 1.4 billion people don’t have access to safe water.

This poverty is a violation of human rights on a massive scale. Poverty continues to intensify due to increasing militarism, environmental degradation, the lack of democratic governance and processes and the exclusion of groups of people on the basis of class, caste, gender, disability, age, race and religion.

 Armed conflicts, wars and their consequences destroy livelihoods, undermine democratic processes, human rights including the right to self determination – and divert resources that should be directed to development and social equity. Investing in human security best prevents conflict and builds peace. The protection of people is a universal obligation of all states and international democratic institutions. Growing militarism and rearmament reduces political space and public accountability of states, diverts development financing and ultimately, renders lasting peace illusive and unrealisable. War and conflict disproportionately affects the security, dignity and future of women and children.

More killer facts at: http://www.whiteband.org/GlobalPages/did-you-know