Understanding the Rights of Women and Girls 

Presented By Obia Mboni Bryan

Outline

Who I am and what YALI is all about.

Introduction.

Definition of key terms.

1. Supporting a Girl’s Right to Learn.

Reasons why girls may not attend school.

The adverse effects of girls not attending school.

The importance of girls having access to education

Outline Cont…

2. Paving the Way for Women Entrepreneurs

Barriers faced by women entrepreneurs.

Why it is important to pave the way for female entrepreneurs.

Violence faced by women and how to overcome it.

3. Ending violence against girls and women

Types of violence faced by girls and women

How to put and end to such violence

4. Questions and interaction with participants, conclusion and end of program.

Introduction

Societies prosper when women and girls are educated. Educated women are

healthier and earn higher incomes that can lift their households out of

poverty. Not only is educating women and girls essential to achieve higher

levels of economic growth and development, it is also the right thing to do

for humanity.

Definition of key terms

Girl education: This is the education given to the girl child, to enable her become a productive person

in life.

Gender discrimination: It is defined as prejudice or discrimination based on a person’s sex or gender.

It affects both men and women, but primarily women. It is linked to stereotypes and gender roles and

may include the belief that one gender is intrinsically superior to another.

Gender-based Violence: It describes acts which result in physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering

to women, according to the united nations.

Reasons why girls may not attend school.

Poverty

Barriers Cont…

Gender discrimination in classrooms

Barriers Cont…

Lack of female teachers

Barriers Cont…

Inadequate infrastructure

Barriers Cont…

Protecting the girl's sexuality

End of Barriers

Inadequate Laws

The adverse effects of not educating the girl child.

1. Early marriage.2. High rate of illiteracy.3. Extreme poverty and hardship.4. Unhealthy sexual lifestyle.5. Lack of opportunities.6. Large families (no knowledge on family planning).

The importance of girls having access to education.

1. Education makes the girl child to be aware of her rights.

2. The girl child become morally upright and demonstrates a high sense of

ethics.

3. They gain knowledge and learn how to socialize.

4. Makes them become creative.

End of Importance…

5. Improves their confidence.

6. Helps broaden their horizon.

7. The become experts in crises management (within the family and the

community at large).

8. She becomes independent.

Implementing a successful program to educate the girl child.

1. Identify potential partners.

2. Identifying funding sources.

3. Setting of realistic goals and objectives.

4. Organizing a volunteerism campaign to help alleviate some of the reasons girls

are discouraged from attending school.

5. Develop strategies for implementation.

Paving the way for female entrepreneurs

Women, as farmers, entrepreneurs, traders and innovators, are key to unlocking

a nation’s economic growth. When women succeed, they produce a multiplier

effect, investing a greater share of their earnings in the well- being of their

families and community, creating long-term benefits for generations to come.

Problems faced by female entrepreneurs.

1. Discriminatory laws and regulations.

2. Access to credit facilities.

3. Lack of market information.

4. Technology.

5. Information and training.

6. Ownership of property.

The importance of paving the way for female entrepreneurs.

1. Female entrepreneurs create a “multiplier effect” (investing a greater share of

their earnings in the well- being of their families and community).

2. Attract investors.

3. Create jobs.

4. Empower other young women.

Ending violence against women

Violence against women and girls, irrespective of what community, country or

continent where one lives, is one of the most pervasive challenges facing humankind.

Such violence include;

1. Sexual harassment.

2. Intimidation.

3. Battering.

4. Rape.

5. Economic control

6. Denial to the right of education

7. Denial of independent movement or action.

8. Political disenfranchisement.

How violence against women can be ended.

1. Educate the community about violence against girls and women.

2. Change the mind-set and actions of boys and young men towards their female counterparts.

3. Encourage girls and women to share their truths as survivors of targeted violence inflicted

upon them because of their gender.

4. Have nascent conversations about violence against women and girls in safe places. e.g.

churches, fields, schools and play areas.

Ending violence against women

5. Men should initiate dialogue amongst themselves about violence against

women and girls, and broader issues about gender and manhood.

6. The use of messages in languages best understood by people in the

community.

Conclusion

Success in addressing violence against women and girls must be

seen as a long-term intergenerational endeavor. There is an African

proverb that says, “If you want to go fast…go alone. If you want to

go far…go together.” If we can come together to guarantee a quality

education to women and girls, we will go far.

Collectively we can act.

Thank you

Reference

YALI.STATE.GOV