The Feminization of Poverty in Brazil

The Brazilian society has showed an increasing strength to overcome social problems and move in the direction of the Millennium Development Goals. In this context, characterized by large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence in world markets. From 2001 to 2003 real wages fell and Brazil's economy grew, on average only 2.2 per cent per year, as the country absorbed a series of domestic and international economic shocks. Notwithstanding, the Brazilian commitment has revealed that democratic paths have been done in terms of human rights trends, carrying out a national action plan that links poverty alleviation to women's rights and universal access to reproductive health