There are numerous problems of women and children in the developing world. There is not enough proper care of expectant mothers and newborns. Universal vaccination is still an unachievable goal for many countries of the world. A live vaccine of polio, for instance, can wipe out large segments of population because the older generation was never vaccinated.

Work safety is still an open issue for developing countries. Thousands of people die of pesticide intoxication at cotton plantations. This concerns young children because in many cases mothers cannot afford a nursery for their children and are forced to take them to work. Child and women’s labour with no regard to minimum wage or maximum hours is still a regular phenomenon. And education of both mothers and their children is still elementary.

Many things are beginning to change for the better however. More and more outsourcing companies start taking care of their workers in the Third World offering them better working conditions and equal opportunities, in some cases education and child care. More schools and colleges are funded from abroad, as well as a number of scholarships and grants are made available for children from the developing countries. Women’s organizations keep fighting for more rights for women and children. Trade is developing more freely with fair-trade agreements. A number of celebrities bring these issues to light every year with concerts and charity events. Still a lot needs to be done to see a radical change in the Third World.

cotton plantations, pesticide intoxication, universal vaccination Hide