Around 1 in 4 young women in South Asia were first married or in union before their 18th birthday. The region is home to around 290 million child brides, accounting for 45% of the global total. Acceleration is required to meet the target of eliminating child marriage by 2030; compared to the last decade, the rate of decline would need to be seven times faster. Read our report to gain a deeper understanding of the unique challenges the region faces.

This report, jointly produced by the UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH), looks to the future, setting an ambitious agenda to reduce the burden of preterm birth, by addressing factors outside of the health system that affect preterm birth; and, within health systems, by providing high-quality, respectful care for women and babies so that they can survive and thrive, no matter where they are born.

Over 200 million women worldwide have undergone the traumatic experience of FGM. Despite this alarming number, an increasing number of men in practicing countries are now standing up against this harmful practice. In fact, our report reveals that, in most cases, mothers’ decisions are more likely to be respected than fathers’ decisions on this matter. Read more about the pivotal role that men can play in the decision-making process when it comes to FGM

New data show severe setbacks in reducing maternal deaths in almost all regions; an estimated 2,800 women die every day from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. Our report presents maternal mortality trends globally and calls for renewed efforts to address the causes, including improving access to quality maternal health services and addressing underlying social, economic, and cultural factors of maternal mortality.