Parents, faced with financial constraints, prefer to educate boys over girls, posing a problem for a large segment of Pakistani women.
This was stated by Minister for Information and Broadcast Firdous Ashiq Awan at the launch of a report titled “Because I Am a Girl” here on Thursday.
The small number of schools and facilities for girls in Pakistan are another major obstacle to their education. The report states that the status of girls around the world cannot be improved without positive participation from boys and men in their lives.
The annual report produced by international children’s rights organisation, Plan, highlights issues of women and girls in the society. This year’s edition’s focus is on the importance of boys and men as fathers, brothers, husbands and their essential roles in not just gender support but ensuring the success of women in society.
The report states that 500 million adolescent girls and young women in developing countries are a major potential force for driving economic progress.
It makes recommendations for action, asking policymakers and planners to make a real difference to girls’ lives all over the world.
Plan also surveyed 4,000 children for its report; the study reveals that many stereotypical beliefs about gender roles in society are still entrenched in the younger generation. But the survey also shows that children are actually happier when they see their parents sharing household responsibilities, rather than sticking to rigid roles.
Research has also shown that girls are more likely to suffer from malnutrition, be forced into an early marriage, be subjected to violence or bullying, be trafficked, or infected with HIV.
Plan Programme Manager Farah Naz said, “This state of affairs cannot be changed unless we invite men and boys to support women in achieving their goal.”
Secretary Human Rights Division Batool Iqbal Qureshi said that the government recognises equal importance of women and children’s roles in society and is fully supportive of advancing their empowerment and rights in all possible ways.
The government reiterated its commitment to advance Pakistani girls and boys by paving the way for their access to rights, wellness and equal position in all aspects of social life through policies and legislations, and national plans and programmes.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2011.
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