The Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has launched the 2020 Gender Report.
Building on the 2020 GEM Report on inclusion and education which launched in June, the Gender Report explores how inclusion in education can advance gender equality.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which had gender equality at its centre. Although huge progress has been made in access to education for girls in the last 25 years, they still face many forms of exclusion. According to the report, three-quarters of primary‑aged children who may never attend school are girls. When combined with other disadvantages, such as poverty or disability, gender can worsen exclusion from education even further.
The report identifies a number of issues that still need to be addressed in order to combat gender inequality in education. These include education and support for sexual health and early pregnancy and removing gender stereotypes from educational content. Safe learning environments, free from sexual harassment and abuse, with access to appropriate sanitation and hygiene facilities, are also highlighted as essential for improved educational outcomes for girls around the world.
To coincide with the Gender Report, GEM Report has also launched the #Iamthe1stGirl campaign. The campaign shows the progress made in gender equality by celebrating girls from around the world who are the first in their family to graduate. Their stories are highlighted on the GEM Report blog.
Read the 2020 Gender Report in full on the UNESCO website.
