18 September 2011 – The World Bank has released the World Development Report 2012 with the theme of Gender Equality and Development. 

Women's equal participation in society has positive impacts on development. While progress has been seen globally in girls enrollment in education, challenges remain in reducing excess mortality of girls and women, especially in maternal mortality. Increasing women's representation in decision-making, from the household, to the community, to the policy level, is another continuing challenge in reaching gender equality. 

World Development Report 2012: Gender Equality and Development