WUNRN
ATTACHED IS THE REPORT OF THE UN
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION, TO THE UN 2006 - GIRLS' RIGHT TO
EDUCATION.
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Young
girls at Nwamba school in
Photo
by 2006 Karen Smith/MSH
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Educating Girls
Across
the world, girls are less likely to be enrolled in school, and even less likely
to complete a basic education, than boys. In many countries, girls face much
higher barriers to getting into school. Entrenched traditions, poverty,
inadequate facilities and sometimes lack of government are some of the many
hurdles that disproportionately affect girls and hamper their education.
As long as girls are left behind, the goals of educating all children and
ensuring real human development can never be achieved. A girl who is denied an
education is more vulnerable to poverty, hunger, violence, abuse and
exploitation, trafficking, HIV/AIDS and maternal mortality – a legacy that may
well be passed on to her own children.
Few of the Millennium Development Goals will be met unless there is significant
progress in girls’ education. Educating girls is a sure way to raise economic
productivity, lower child and maternal mortality, improve nutritional status
and health, reduce poverty and eliminate HIV/AIDS and other diseases.
Getting more girls into school today will also pay enormous dividends for the
next generation. A girl who has an education is more likely to contribute fully
to political, social and economic life and grow up to be a mother whose own
children are more likely to survive, be better nourished and go to school
themselves. She will be more productive at home and better paid in the
workplace. She will be better able to protect herself and her children.
The best way to ensure quality education for all children – boys as well as
girls – is to eliminate the barriers that keep girls out of the classroom:
schools that are long distances from home, school feels and other hidden costs,
lack of safe water and sanitation, discrimination and the threat of violence.
The challenge is a daunting one and requires the combined efforts of more than
just one organization. Strong in its capacity as a convener for children,
UNICEF is the lead agency in the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative, a
network bringing together governments, donor countries, other United Nations
agencies, non-governmental organizations and other partners to ensure that by
2015, all children complete primary schooling, with girls and boys having equal
access to all levels of education.
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