Let's unite and end violence against women and girls! 👩🏽👩🏻👩🏾
Published: Nov 23, 2022 Reading time: 4 minutes
Whether it’s at home, on the street or during war, violence against women and girls is a violation of basic human rights, and it continues to happen around us in both private and public places. Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread human rights violations in the world, but it still remains largely unreported today due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame that surrounds it. It’s time to stop closing our eyes!
On November 25th, we commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Violence against females is one of the most widespread human rights violations in the world, rooted in gender inequality, discrimination and harmful cultural and societal norms.
Active education for a better and safer future for women and girls
One of the ways to reduce domestic violence is through education. However, access to education is often unattainable for many girls. This major disadvantage in education manifests itself both as a lack of general knowledge, but also missed opportunities on the labor market. Increasing the financial independence of women and girls is paramount, not only to boosting self-confidence of women and girls, but for opening up new professional opportunities for them. We know from experience that when girls and women are educated, we see faster reductions in poverty, better maternal health and lower child mortality, and importantly, fewer cases of violence. Every year that a girl spends in school can increase her earning potential as an adult by up to 20%.
People in Need supports the education of girls in Ethiopia and Nepal as part of the Leave No Girl Behind project. In this project, we focus on marginalised girls who may not have access to education due to the family's poor financial situation, the fact that they are married or the fact that she was already very busy as young mothers. Part of the project also focuses on helping girls with disabilities.
In Nepal, learning centers have prepared 9479 girls to face future challenges!
In Nepal, some girls have the opportunity to enroll in technical and vocational education and training (TVET), where they can increase their qualifications and their chances on the labor market.
Through the Aarambha project, financed by UK AID as part of the Girls' Education Challenge, PIN has been able to help 462 community education centres since 2018. In these centres, girls can focus on learning how to read and write for 9 month periods. The centres also focus on teaching effective sex education, important reproductive health issues, as well as understanding the law and personal safety. The girls also can learn basic financial literacy and the basics of trading.
Education is the way forward for girls in Ethiopia. They want to fulfill their dreams too!
In Ethiopia, access to education for girls can be limited. They are often unable to attend school for financial or cultural reasons. In Ethiopia, it is customary for everyone, including children and especially girls, to help run the household – including things like taking care of younger siblings, carrying water, collecting firewood, preparing food etc. It is precisely because of these responsibilities that girls often leave school at an early age. The aim of our work here is to support an equal and inclusive environment, not only in schools, but also outside them. Similar to our work elsewhere, we focus on helping girls with disabilities who are often particularly vulnerable.
"Thanks to education, girls are emancipated and able to assert themselves. Gradually, the whole society will realise the necessity and benefits of girls' education," adds Jana Vyhnálková, project coordinator.
Older girls and women also often participate in this project. Over the past four years, more than 5,400 out-of-school girls have enrolled in alternative primary education programs and adult education courses. Around 270 adults have continued with vocational training or formed a self-help group to help one another fulfill their dreams.
People in Need Cambodia supports this campaign by lighting our building in orange for the next 16 days.
The theme of women's human rights also appears in films on the One World Online platform
Where journalists have traditionally been only men from higher social castes, the Khabar Lahariya newspaper is a small revolution. For victims of rape or illegal logging, this is often the only space where they can express themselves. To keep up with the times, newspapers are now moving into the digital world – and with them reporters, many of whom have yet to learn how to use smartphones. But for them, even in the online arena, journalism remains a way to strive for a fairer world, despite mistrust, caste and gender discrimination, and growing religious radicalism.
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