Having a gender perspective in public interventions is important in rich and poor countries alike. The OECD countries that have the best ‘report cards’ in terms of preventing child poverty by family income secure generous support for families with children and have high labour market participation rates among women. Steady economic growth matched by growing employment rates among women (and among single parents) has contributed to reducing child poverty in the 1990s in a number of OECD countries.

The highly flexible labour market in the United States or the effective legal protection against gender discrimination in the Nordic countries may not be available to women in other countries. Nonetheless, pursuing labour market and fiscal policies that address economic insecurity among women and reduce persistently high levels of inequality can help reduce poverty.

Developing legislation and local initiatives to fortify the protective environment for children will result in both economic development and the fulfilment of child rights. A recent study by the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour offers convincing evidence that over a 20-year period, the economic benefits of eliminating child labour would far exceed the costs. The model envisages urgent action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour, such as bonded labour, and the criminal exploitation of children in prostitution.