UNESCO to celebrate Malala’s stand on girls’ right to edu on Dec 10

statesman.com

The UN Agency tasked with promoting education will stage a high-level advocacy event aimed at mobilising a "deeper commitment" to educating girls and celebrating the "courage of young girls like Malala Yousufzai," it was announced in Paris on Sunday. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, made the announcement in her message marking the International Day for the Elimination of violence Against Women 2012, but gave no further details. Bokova said, "The world was shocked by the brutal attack on October 9th against Malala Yousafzai, a fourteen year old girl, shot for claiming her right and that of other girls to an education. "This attack has shined the spotlight on the prevalence of violence against girls and women. The story of Malala Yousafzai is sadly far from unique. Across the world, girls and women face violence as they try to exercise their basic rights, including that of education. Sexual harassment and assault, bullying and psychological violence, corporal punishment -- all of these types of violence remain prevalent. Violence, and its threat, is one of the key factors forcing girls to drop out of school. "This is a violation of individual human rights that undermines the health of all society. UNESCO is working to eliminate all forms of violence -- physical, psychological and economic. We start by promoting the right to education for all girls and women in societies across the world, including especially in and after conflict situations. We act also at the global level... "UNESCO also supports the fight against the scourge of human trafficking. This global threat affects an estimated 2.4 million victims every year -- 80 percent of whom are women, 75 percent under the age of 25 years old. All countries are concerned, as places of origin, transit, and/or destination. "Education must stand at the forefront of the fight against trafficking, building on comprehensive efforts that bring together education, communication and media and policy-making in receiving, transit and sending countries.