SEMINAR: Beijing strikes a sensitive chord as the issue of the education of women and girls is raised
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"Society has been transformed. It is time to adapt its laws to the transformationsSociety has been transformed.
It is time to adapt its laws to the transformations" was one of the cries heard at Beijing1. To which
Ms. Wassyla Tamzali, an Algerian lawyer who now co-ordinates UNESCO's activities for women,
adds: "Education is the key to change - only through education can mentalities be changed in such a way
to eliminate discrimination against women. And above all its content is important".
Around 60 per cent of the more than one billion adults who have no access to basic education are women, and the majority of more than 130 million children who have not had access to primary schooling are girls. In Africa alone, there are 340 million women, more than double the number in Europe, and 40 per cent of those women are illiterate. We know all the reasons, pointless repeating them, and although it is generally accepted that a close link exists between the level of participation of women in education and the development of a country, little or nothing is being done to remedy this. |
In the face of such persistent discrimination and the resultant waste of human resources,
UNESCO, together with the United Nations Committee on the 'Elimination of the discri-mination against
women', has recently published a Manifesto entitled 'Towards a gender-inclusive culture through education'
to encourage countries to provide basic education for all women.
The manifesto outlines eight basic principles for action for the international community. One, education must be guaranteed to all women and men by the State. Two, women and girls should have access to all levels and forms of education on an equal basis with men and boys. Three, training in basic literacy and numeracy skills must be provided for women. Four, a policy of lifelong education for women should be developed. Five, women and girls should be encouraged to take up scientific and technological studies. Six, non-discriminatory gender inclusion is funda-mental to the organization, structure and content both of the development and transmission of all knowledge through education. Seven, legal literacy, health and reproductive rights are the foundation of women's autonomy and enable them to exercise their rights and responsibilities as citizens. Eight, education for gender equality is a way of combatting violence. |