In September, I completed my Certificate in International Development at NYU’s School of Professional Studies. The program was incredibly eye-opening, and allowed me to gain deep and valuable insights into the economic, social, and political aspects of global development. 

What marked me the most was the magnitude of global challenges that humanity is grappling with — most of which are not perceived by a majority of us as we go about our daily lives. Courses like Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction, as well as Gender in International Affairs contributed to these lasting impressions. 

Following this experience, I still find myself reflecting on these learnings. Based on that, in this article, I will share the five insights that shocked me the most. My intention is that, by shining the spotlight on these issues, I can inspire people to take action. 

#1: Africa is a victim, not a criminal

Although Africa has contributed less than 10% of global greenhouse emissions, it faces disproportionate impacts from climate change that reverberate across its economic, social, political, and environmental sectors. 

A report by the World Meteorological Organization states that climate-related disasters in the country — from exacerbating water stress, damaging agricultural harvests, and amplifying inequality — have negatively impacted over 110 million people and caused economic harm of $8.5 billion. This is in addition to the 100 million individuals who could be displaced as areas become unlivable due to climate change. It is estimated that $250 billion per year is necessary to mitigate this.

#2: The right to safe abortion is a privilege

In many regions in the Western world, the right to a safe abortion is taken for granted. Even if the U.S. has become a battleground — with bans in effect in 14 states already after Roe v. Wade was overturned — more than 60 countries have legalized the right to abortion over the past 30 years. 

However, in many countries, this is far from being a reality, as I discovered during the Global Health and Development course. 

For example, in Nicaragua and El Salvador, abortion-related procedures are completely prohibited, while in Poland — even if it is in the heart of the mostly-progressive EU — it is only possible to terminate a pregnancy for medical reasons or due to rape. For the latter, permission from a prosecutor is needed. 

While I had heard many terrifying stories of women who went through extreme suffering while aiming to terminate a pregnancy, the severity of the statistics still struck me. The World Health Organization reports that practically, six out of 10 unintended pregnancies and three out of 10 of all pregnancies end in induced abortion. The same organization estimates that 45% of all abortions can be considered unsafe. 

If this is not enough, a study conducted by the Global Center for Reproductive Rights underscored that 40% of women who are in the reproductive age range — accounting for 753 million women worldwide — live under laws that restrict their right to abortion. This is extremely alarming, considering that in many cases, this procedure could save their lives.

#3: Poverty is not gender-neutral

Women and men face different levels of poverty, and the same goes if we speak about the obstacles in the way of poverty reduction. 

For instance, in the United States, a 2018 census revealed that there were 38.1 million people living in poverty. Of them, 56% were women. This is in line with a study conducted by the World Bank, which found that for every 100 men aged between 25 and 34 who were living in poverty, there were 122 women in the same conditions. 

All in all, this accounts for 383 million women and girls living on less than $1.90 a day — compared to 368 million boys and men. These facts showcase that the gender gap is still very present and rooted in our economic system. 

#4: Many women lack protection from domestic abuse

Despite violence against women across the globe being a rampant problem, there are no universal laws specifically aimed at addressing gender-based violence. 

It is a shame that in today’s world, 49 countries still lack a law that protects women against domestic violence. If this is not enough, 45 nations don’t have legislation that shields females from sexual harassment, and 112 do not criminalize marital rape.

There are further issues. In many countries, societal norms permit physical and verbal abuse. This means they tend to side with the male in situations that place women at a disadvantage — cases such as a wife arguing with her husband, refusing to have sex, burning food, going out without his permission, or neglecting the children for any reason, even if it is outside of her control. 

#5: Child marriage, a blatant violation of human rights, is still a big issue

If we want to end child marriage by 2030, we need to move at 20 times the speed we are moving now. 

Even though child marriage is an egregious violation of every child’s right to realize their full potential, there are 650 million girls and women alive today who were married before their 18th birthday. And, if trends stand as they are now, we might see 150 million more girls married by 2030. 

The consequences of child marriage greatly exacerbate gender inequality. Once married, it is commonly expected that a girl will take care of the home and a prospective family, making it almost impossible for them to continue their studies or bolster their professional careers and aspirations. 

Final thoughts

At this point, you might be as shocked as I was when I discovered all these facts. As you can see, completing my certificate has prompted me to reflect extensively, especially regarding an issue that I’m profoundly passionate about — gender equality and women’s rights. 

My learnings have inspired me to take a deep dive into international development, and I am looking forward to continuing my journey and uplifting women around the world — I will share more inspiring updates soon, so stay tuned!