Health systems are a crucial yet often overlooked foundation of gender equality. Access to maternal, reproductive, and sexual health services not only reflects existing levels of equality but actively shapes women’s autonomy, educational paths, and participation in the labor market. From contraception and safe childbirth to integrated responses to gender-based violence, effective health policies generate broader gains in empowerment and opportunity across diverse contexts. Investing in these services is therefore essential to making gender equality substantive, measurable, and sustainable over time.

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