Just education is not enough...

Just education is not enough...

AgenciesUpdated: Thursday, March 05, 2020, 09:53 PM IST
article-image

United Nations: More girls were getting education now than ever before but this gain made little headway in helping shape a more equal, less violent environment for females, the UN said in a report. The report, released on Wednesday ahead of the 64th session of the Commission on the Status of Women of the UN, noted that the number of out-of-school girls has dropped by 79 million in the last two decades, Xinhua news agency reported.

In fact, girls became more likely to be in secondary school than boys in just the last decade. Yet, violence against women and girls was still common. In 2016, for example, women and girls accounted for 70 per cent of detected trafficking victims globally, most for sexual exploitation.

One in every 20 girls aged 15 to 19 -- around 13 million -- has experienced rape in their lifetimes. "Access to education is not enough -- we must also change people's behaviours and attitudes towards girls. True equality will only come when all girls are safe from violence, free to exercise their rights, and are able to enjoy equal opportunities in life," said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore.

The report, 'A New Era for Girls: Taking stock on 25 years of progress', was issued to mark the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action -- the historic blueprint for advancing women's and girls' rights.

The report notes that harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) continue to disrupt and damage the lives and potential of millions of girls globally. Each year, 12 million girls are married in childhood, and 4 million were at risk of FGM. Globally, girls aged 15 to 19 were as likely to justify wife-beating as boys of the same age. --IANS

RECENT STORIES

9 Earring Designs For Every Indian Girl, From Traditional To Experimental, Here Is The Evergreen...

9 Earring Designs For Every Indian Girl, From Traditional To Experimental, Here Is The Evergreen...

A Chair For The Lovers! The 17th-Century Innovation Of 'Loveseats' Has Come Back To Trend

A Chair For The Lovers! The 17th-Century Innovation Of 'Loveseats' Has Come Back To Trend

Explore 108 Bhutanese Sites at Your Fingertips! Bhutan's Travel Department Launches 'The Druk Neykor...

Explore 108 Bhutanese Sites at Your Fingertips! Bhutan's Travel Department Launches 'The Druk Neykor...

Shobha De Addresses A Literary Evening At The Hotel's Writers Bar

Shobha De Addresses A Literary Evening At The Hotel's Writers Bar

Javier Rodrigeuz and Nikhil Agarwal titillate people’s palate

Javier Rodrigeuz and Nikhil Agarwal titillate people’s palate