There are a number of critical social issues in today's world. Many do not only affect women and children, for example poverty or armed conflict, but the risks are significantly higher for them. Below is a list and brief description of some of these issues and how they pertain to women and children.
Physical abuse, emotional abuse, abandonment, neglect, sexual abuse
Abuse is a term which covers a wide range of behaviours and actions and for these purposes has been divided into six main areas: physical abuse, neglect, abandonment emotional abuse, sexual abuse and domestic violence. Within each type there is a broad spectrum of severity.
forced participation in combat, sexual violence as a weapon of war, displacement, orphaning/ widowhood, maiming, conflict refugees, post trauma, re-socialization, impact on education, disease, loss of land/ livelihood
“Child soldiers are ideal because they don’t complain, they don’t expect to be paid and if you tell them to kill, they kill. [President] Déby has trouble finding soldiers who are willing to fight for him, but children will do what they’re told.” - commander in the Chadian Army.1
An 11 year old girl with Down's Syndrome was playing with a little boy on the beach. "Are you disabled?" he asked. "No, I'm Daisy," she replied and they went on playing.
The International Classification of Functioning (ICF) defines disability as, "The outcome of the interaction between a person with an impairment and the environmental and attitudinal barriers he/she may face." This is basically saying that people are "disabled" because of the prejudice and discrimination that they face and the failure of society to adapt and accommodate their needs.
"Every day . . . more than 26,000 children under the age of five die around the world, mostly from preventable causes . . . More than one third of these children die during the first month of life, usually at home and without access to essential health services and basic commodities that might save their lives".1
Directly or indirectly, exploitative labour practices affect every person on earth today. We are either the directly exploitative employer or, in most cases, simply the consumer of products made by unfree workers or the recipient of their services.
Gender Specific Risks are human rights violations and discrimination on the primary basis of gender. These types of risks can also include discrimination as a result of conditions possible only because of gender (i.e. pregnancy concerns). Many of these risk categories are linked.
Infant mortality, sanitation and hygiene, lack of access to healthcare
Many NGO's as well as the media call the fact that so many people suffer under the present food crisis and many might die, a "silent Tsunami"1. Because of the enormous rise in food prices many million more people will be added to those living in absolute poverty. For many people this might mean surviving on one bowl of rice a day.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was discovered less than 40 years ago, but is already "the most serious of infectious disease challenges to public health”1 and continues to ravage lives across the world. An estimated 33 million people are currently infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)2 that causes AIDS and there are over 15 million children who have lost one or both of their parents to the disease.3
According to George F. Kneller, education is “any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character, or physical ability of an individual . . . In its technical sense education is the process by which society, through schools, colleges, universities, and other institutions, deliberately transmits its cultural heritage – its accumulated knowledge, values and skills – from one generation to another.”1
This is a broad subject, but many topics concern females. Topics include issues such as: population control (one-child policy, which existed in China long before the current state policy); child brides; male domination; religious practices (e.g. prostitution as a religious rite), female genital mutilation/circumcision, Infant Oral Mutilation , sati/suttee, breast rolling/ironing and many others.
1. To burden with cruel or unjust impositions or restraints
2. To weigh heavily upon
3. To overwhelm or crush
While men, women and children all suffer under political oppression, women and children make up a clear majority of those afflicted. When a government uses its power to control, manipulate and put people at risk, those people are left without protection and few options to ensure the safety and livelihood of their families.
Poverty cannot be overestimated as a link within all other areas of risk. The symptoms of poverty currently lead to one death every 3 seconds worldwide. Poverty affects every area of life and is found on every continent.
Food, healthcare, adequate shelter, schooling, and a promising future are all out of reach for those living in poverty. Without the ability to access these basic necessities the cycle of poverty continues.
The sexual misuse, abuse, mistreatment and/or manipulation of a person.
“Sexual violence is a human rights violation, a global public health problem, and an impediment to recovery, development and peace.” Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General.
As many as 2 million women and children are said to be trafficked each year, 800,000 across borders and girls as young as 5 have been forced into the commercial sex trade.
Homelessness, street children, inadequate housing, slums
Homelessness is a growing problem that affects not only developing nations but first world countries as well. Many people do not understand the severity of the issue, and therefore are unsure of things they can do to help. Millions of children call the streets their home because their own homes are inadequate and unsafe to live in. Many of those millions lack any home at all, inadequate or otherwise.
“The devastating effects of natural disasters . . . are hitting the poorest the hardest.”1
Natural disasters can tear apart communities and families in just a few minutes. It is said that, "With each new disaster, precious gains made in poverty eradication are swept away." Whether in developed or developing countries, a natural disaster can plunge a community into distress, but it is the poorest that suffer the most.
forced participation in combat, 
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