Education is the crux of women empowerment. It sets the stage for liberation from gender-based violence, cultural norms and practices, in addition to sexual and emotional abuse. Discover the importance of women education and why you should promote it.
Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.friendsofeurope.org
Education is one of the major areas for women empowerment and yet everyday girls face limitations in accessing education due to poverty, cultural norms and practices, violence and poor infrastructure.
According to UNESCO estimates, 130 million girls between the age of 6 and 17 are out of school and 15 million girls of primary-school age—half of them in sub-Saharan Africa— will never enter a classroom. Educated women are more confident in key decision making in their homes and in the society. They are girded with socioeconomic and life skills for creating balance and adapting to the changing world.
Educated women tend to be healthier, happier and bolder. These women are more likely to marry at a later age and have fewer children, and in turn enable quality health care provision and education for their children. These factors are significant building blocks towards improved households, communities and nations.
According to friends of Europe, Somali girls face numerous obstacles like female genital mutilation and child marriages, emotional and sexual abuse and physical violence when attempting to get an education.
The UNDP’s latest statistics place Somalia as the fourth most gender unequal country worldwide. 45% of women aged 20 to 24 are married before the age of 18. Adult literacy for women is still at 26% and 74% are unemployed.
Educating a woman increases a couple of societal factors such as population growth, family health and infant mortality. Educated women will participate more in the labor force and thus help increase the GDP. This is a call to action for communities and nations (individually and synergistically) to play their roles in promoting education among girls and women, thereby bridging the gender parity gap.
The whole community should be sensitized on gender related issues, and questions related to women rights should be addressed. The economic empowerment of women is key in addressing gender inequality.
Creating platforms and environments that infuse skills relevant for life, business, and the work place increases employment opportunities for women. This can then provide them with income and access to higher positions in their work place. Educated women participating in the labor force can thus increase the GDP.
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