A report on the status of world population was launched across the world Friday with a simple yet powerful message that gender equality reduces poverty, saves and improves life.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)’s report states that gender equity, empowerment of women through education, access to reproductive health services and a halt to gender-based violence were vital in realizing the goal of poverty reduction.

The report has also closely linked the Millennium Development Goal with gender issue, stating that the world leaders can’t materialise the main aim of MDGs to dramatically reduce poverty by 2015 until ending gender discrimination.

The world population report stressed that investment in political, economic and educational opportunities for women and girls yields quick wins and high payoffs that lead to improved economic prospects, smaller families, healthier and more literate children, lower HIV prevalence rate and reduced incidence of harmful traditional practices.

About 529,000 women die of pregnancy-related causes that are almost entirely preventable, the report states.

It also shows that lack of access to modern contraceptives was the major factor behind an estimated 76 million unintended pregnancies in the developing world alone.

About 19 million exercise unsafe abortion worldwide each year, the report added.