Gender policy
The GAVI Alliance has a special commitment to helping everyone in the developing world gain equal access to vaccines and health care, whether they are women or men, girls or boys.
Women in the world’s poorest countries are often more susceptible to disease than men because, from an early age, they do not share equal access to basic health care - with far-reaching consequences for future generations.
As the primary child carer in developing countries, a mother’s health is inseparable from her child’s. Not only do healthy mothers give birth to healthy children; women are also the first to recognise and seek treatment for their sons’ and daughters’ illnesses.
GAVI's commitment
Approved by GAVI boards in June 2008, the GAVI Alliance Gender Policy recognises that guaranteeing equal access is a key factor in expanding immunisation coverage and reinforcing national health services. Drawing closely on the experiences and capacity of its partners, the Alliance is committed to:- Promoting a more coordinated effort, at country and global level, to fulfilling international commitments to gender equality in health
- Raising awareness of the issue
- Providing leadership
The policy results from GAVI partners working together through a Gender Advisory Committee. See partners’ gender policies.
- WHO
- UNICEF
- World Bank
- WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health, Women and Gender Equity Knowledge Network
GAVI’s commitment to gender equality was underlined when Julian Lob-Levyt became an MDG3 torchbearer committing himself to doing something extra in support of gender equality and women’s economic development.
Related links
- GAVI support for countries wanting to strengthen their health systems (HSS)
- GAVI policy to support equality - press release 9 March 2009
Related downloads
- The GAVI Alliance Gender Policy
- GAVI Alliance gender policy implementation plan
- Influence of GAVI supported antigens on women’s and maternal health (PDF 316K)
See also
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