Women at the frontline of climate change

(UNDP, 2010a). The differences are still wide in some countries of the HKH, such as Nepal, where girls have less access to formal education than boys so only 17.9% of women compared to 39.9% of men have at least secondary education in 2010 (UNDP, 2010b). Literacy rates in 2006 for Nepal indicate gender differences with 81% for men and 54.5% for women (UNDP, 2009). For instance, Nepal is ranked as 138 out of 169 nations in UNDP’s Human Development Index and is described as having “low human development”. In Nepal, women have limited access to health services, as evidenced by the maternal mortality rate estimated from 2003 to 2008 at 830 maternal

contact to natural environments and biodiversity. Despite these critical roles, the data and statistics outlined in the below section clearly demonstrate the challenging situation and position of many women in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region as they carry out these important roles.

OTHER CRITICAL GENDER INEQUALITIES

Although emerging data on gender differences in formal education, primary enrolment and secondary completion rates and ratios indicate a narrowing of gender gaps worldwide, some gaps remain, especially in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa

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