Asia is a continent of extremes. Poverty rates vary from 1,7 % up to 70 %. Especially single mothers are in considerable danger to fall below poverty level. Natural disasters, such as earth quakes, tsunamis and floods shattered several countries in the region, such as Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Japan. Here too, women are among the first to suffer from the consequences of the catastrophes. Especially the provision of reproductive health services is insufficient, most of all in rural areas.

The Asian Countries of India and China as two of the most important aspiring industrial nations world wide constitute 37 % of the world’s population. They are member states of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

All member states of UNESCAP ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDWA), although 18 only did with certain reservations. Human rights activists need to deal with repressions and even jail sentences (i.e. Bhurma, Thailand, China).

Selective abortion of female fetuses and female infanticide is among the first acts of violence against women and girls in some countries of Asia. But also sexual abuse, rape, human and organ trafficking put women and girls in the region at risk. In some of the countries (such as Thailand, the Philippines, as well as other tourist locations), child abuse and sex tourism are a great risk to young girls.

Concerning primary education, big differences between boys and girls prevail in several countries in Asia. The literacy rate among women is most often lower than among men.