In Pakistan, 26.2 million children aged 5-16 are out of school; half are girls. Adolescent girls still face daunting barriers to continuing their education especially in remote and rural parts of the country.
The country is home to nearly 19 million child brides, many of whom give birth before turning 18. 88 per cent of girls live in poverty.
Conservative gender roles, limited education access, and oppressive social norms have kept women and girls trapped in abject poverty, early marriage, violence, and exploitation for generations.
Around 46 per cent of girls are not learning, employed or receiving any employability skills. Even girls who can attend school face significant hurdles. Almost half of the girls drop out by the upper secondary level.
The figures are overwhelming.
It is heartbreaking to see these young minds barred from learning simply because they are girls. The scenario reminds me of the adage: talent is universal; opportunity is not.
The ripple effects of leaving girls behind impact everyone. No country can prosper when half its population is left behind.
Source link : https://www.unicef.org/rosa/blog/adolescent-girls-can-achieve-anything-when-given-space-skills-and-opportunities
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Publish date : 2024-07-05 02:39:24
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