A report by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation revealed on Tuesday that gender discrimination and inequality between countries are obstacles to global development.
The report showed that despite the progress of development gains in the world steadily, place of birth is still the most important factor to predict the health of any newborn, and the situation is more difficult if the baby is female regardless of place of birth.
The report found that nearly half a billion people worldwide are still deprived of the basics of health and education, and girls face more obstacles everywhere.
The report, which tracks developments in reducing poverty and improving health, said the gaps between countries and regions and between boys and girls demonstrate that global investments in development do not reach everyone.
Despite gains in access to education for girls, women's opportunities for life remain subject to social norms, discriminatory laws and policies and gender-based violence.
Gender and geography
In an interview on the findings, Sue Desmond Helman, chief executive of the foundation, said the most prominent warnings were "gender and geographic risks."
She cited data in the report, for example, showing that more children die in Chad per day than in Finland every year. While average education in Finland reaches university, the average child in Chad does not finish primary school.
"Gender is still a major negative factor affecting equality, so addressing gender inequality is the first thing (required)," she told Reuters.
"The second thing is that if the baby is female in (one of the poorest parts of Africa), the geographical position will not be in her favor either, and it is unacceptable that the child's death in Chad is 55 times higher than in Finland."
The Gates Foundation issues this report annually to monitor progress in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which include reducing discrimination, poverty and improving global health by 2030.