Promoting equal rights

Senior government officials and experts will discuss ways to improve the lives of young girls living in South Asia at a three-day conference from 4 to 6 December 2007 in Jaipur, India.

Those attending the conference will debate topics such as health and education – all from the perspective of young girls.

There have been significant improvements in South Asia in terms of gender equality in recent years. Between 1995 and 2005, Bangladesh increased girls’ secondary school enrolment from 13 per cent to 56 per cent. India, Maldives and Sri Lanka have also made progress in improving girls’ enrolment into school.

Despite these improvements, many young girls in the region continue to live with gender barriers. Consequently, this meeting will conduct an in-depth analysis into ways of breaking down those barriers.

Discussions will focus on helping government departments in South Asia which are involved in promoting the rights of young girls. The experts will also reflect on successful existing models currently adopted by other governments.

The gender, education and child rights experts will then look at formulating a long-term commitment from governments and civil society with regard to promoting sustained equal rights for girls.

“If young girls are given the opportunity to realise their full potential, we will have more responsible, self-confident, and competent women, capable of making appropriate choices for themselves and others,” said Dr Jyotsna Jha, Education Adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat.

“We will also have stronger families, healthier children, safer societies and stronger economies – and at the centre of this cycle is the young girl, who has equal rights.”

The Secretariat’s Social Transformation Programmes Division is organising this meeting with the United Nations Girls Education Initiative and CARE India.

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