Investing in Women is Key to Ending Global Hunger

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by Bread for the World:

WHAT:     The release of Bread for the World Institute's 2015 Hunger Report: When Women Flourish…We Can End Hunger and panel discussion

WHEN:      Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., ET  
                (Continental breakfast is available at 8:30 a.m.)

WHERE:    National Press Club, 529 14th St., NW, Washington, D.C.
                (Holeman Lounge)

WHO:       Gary Barker, co-chair of MenEngage Alliance; Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World and World Food Prize laureate; Fouzia Dahir, executive director of the Northern Organization of Social Empowerment, Kenya; Andrea James, executive director of Families for Justice as Healing; Asma Lateef, director of Bread for the World Institute; and Victoria Stanley, chair of the Gender in Agriculture Thematic Group at the World Bank; the panel will be moderated by Sandra Joireman, chair of Bread for the World's board of directors.  

WHY:      The newly elected Congress has more than 100 women members – the biggest in U.S. history – but still less than 19 percent of the total. Globally, women legislators account for only 22 percent of the world's legislatures.  

Because of structural barriers and discrimination, women are disproportionately affected by hunger and poverty, but research has shown that investing in women pays off. In fact, 55 percent of the reduction in hunger from 1970 to 1995 can be attributed to improvements in women's education and life expectancy.

In agriculture, more than half the world's smallholder farmers are women. If they were given the same access to farm resources that male farmers have, women farmers could help reduce hunger for 100 to 150 million people.

"Eliminating barriers and empowering women around the world is key to ending hunger," said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World.

A light breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m. Printed copies of the report will be available at the news conference and at www.bread.org/hungerreport on Nov. 24.

Bread for the World (www.bread.org) is a collective Christian voice urging our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad.

SOURCE Bread for the World

Related Links

http://www.bread.org

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