Women in Mali are strong and resilient, but they face many barriers and challenging odds.
Because women have limited opportunities in society, we believe they are one of Mali’s greatest untapped resources.
If we can engage and support women who are excluded from decision-making, the health and future of children, families, and communities will improve.
” Traditionally, a woman in labor is compared to a soldier on the front line. When she has delivered, she is considered victorious, but if she dies in labor, it is said of her that she died honorably on the battlefield. The delivery of a boy is announced as being ‘very good and double news,’ that of a girl, ‘good news.’ The death of a woman and of her baby boy is termed a ‘double and very bad’ announcement, while the death of a woman and of her baby girl is related as ‘double and bad.'”
– From L’etrange destin de Wangrin by Amadou Hampâté Bâ
CHALLENGES WOMEN FACE
In general, women in Mali do not have the opportunity to thrive:
182 of 189
Mali’s rank on the Human Development Index (HDI)
157 of 160
Mali’s rank on the Gender Inequality Index (GII)
They also struggle to access adequate healthcare, which leads to some of the most challenging outcomes in the world:
1 in 26
lifetime risk of maternal death
of young women age 15 – 19 have a child or are pregnant
unmet need for family planning
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