India, May 12 -- Soaring sovereign debt in developing countries is deepening gender inequality.

Women are bearing the brunt of job losses, income decline and worsening health, as governments divert budgets to debt servicing.

Cuts to health, social protection and public services threaten to erase development gains

It also puts millions of women's livelihoods and lives at risk worldwide.

Rising sovereign debt burdens are disproportionately harming women across developing countries, according to a new report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). They are threatening jobs of women, reducing their incomes and worsening health outcomes, the report showed.

Rising debt repayments could lead to the loss of 55 million women's job...