About Us

The YMCA's Commitment to Gender Equality

The YMCA is a movement of women and men. It works to empower all, especially young people and women, to take increased responsibilities and assume leadership at all levels.

YMCAs working in 124 countries are advocating for and promoting the rights of women. Key actions include supporting entrepreneurial and vocational training opportunities for women, and facilitating dialogue among all sectors of the community including children, parents and elders, to challenge traditional gender stereotypes.

The YMCA is committed to creating genuine partnerships between men and women to overturn social injustices. The YMCA is a movement of women and men. It works to empower all, especially young people and women, to take increased responsibilities and assume leadership at all levels. YMCAs working in 124 countries are advocating for and promoting the rights of women.

These facts must change!

• Young women represent 67% of all new cases of HIV among people aged 15 to 24 in developing countries (UNFPA, 2005)

• In countries such as Uganda and Kenya, 80% of those who work and cultivate the land are women, yet they make up only 5% of all landowners (FAO, 2006)

• Worldwide, an estimated one in five women will be a victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime. One in three will have been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused, usually by a family member or an acquaintance (UNFPA, 2005)

• Women and children account for more than 75% of the refugess and displaced persons at risk from war, famine, persecution and natural disaster (UNFPA, 2005)

• In 2005, the rate of female political representation is just 16 percent globally (IDEA, 2006)