Monday 29 July 2013

EDUCATING WOMEN

Empowering Women
In spite of countless international agreements affirming their human rights, women are still much more likely than men to be poor and illiterate. They usually have less access, than men, to medical care, property ownership, credit, training and employment. They are far less likely than men to be politically active and far more likely to be victims of domestic violence.


Empowering Women through Education
Education is one of the most important means of empowering women with the knowledge, skills and self-confidence necessary to participate fully in the development process.

Education is important for everyone, but it is especially significant for girls and women. This is true not only because education is an entry point to other opportunities, but also because the educational achievements of women can have ripple effects within the family and across generations. Investing in girls' education is one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty.

There are many practical steps that can be taken to reduce inequalities based on gender, which hinder the potential to reduce poverty and achieve high levels of well-being in societies around the world.

The Challenge Today
There are 600 million girls living in the developing world. Two-thirds of the world's uneducated children are girls, and two-thirds of the world's illiterate adults are women. Around the world, girls and women continue to suffer from a lack of economic opportunity, inadequate health care and education, early marriage, sexual violence, and discrimination. Numerous studies have demonstrated that educating women and girls is the single most effective strategy to ensure the well-being and health of children, and the long-term success of developing economies.
There are compelling benefits associated with girls' education:
  • Reduction of child and maternal mortality
  • Improvement of child nutrition and health
  • Lower birth rates
  • Enhancement of women's domestic role and their political participation
  • Improvement of the economic productivity and growth
  • Protection of girls from HIV/AIDS, abuse and exploitation
Girls' education yields some of the highest returns of all development investments, yielding both private and social benefits that accrue to individuals, families, and society.

Sources: The Global Fund for Women, The World Bank, The Clinton Global Initiative


Note: the images are not mine

6 comments:

  1. I'm surprised by the number of people who take education for granted. It is a privilege to be immersed in an environment where there is the opportunity to learn, whether that be in the home or in a school. Beautiful words.
    Bella xx

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    1. While I was at school I hated it. Think it had o do with the fact that in High School I was bullied for being different. However, in my 2os I discovered my love for education, and a love of what education can do for you.

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  2. I hadn't ever thought much about the link between education and reducing poverty and protecting women until I read Three Cups of Tea...such a wonderful book.
    I am really looking forward to your series...and will get to work on my post soon!

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    1. Looking forward to your post as well!! Plus now you have me interested in this book. Will be checking if the library has it.

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  3. Great post Julie, you have me inspired,to write but to also do something more about how lack of education underpins inequality.

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    1. that would be amazing as well. I think everything we learn is important. Even if the lesson is inequality.

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