“The best judge of whether or not a country is going to develop is how it treats its women. If it’s educating girls, if women have equals rights, that country is going to move forward. But if women are oppressed and abused and illiterate, then they’re going to fall behind.” - President Barack Obama
On March 8, 1975, during International Women's Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women's Day. Two years later, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace. Now celebrated around the world, International Women's Day recognizes and commemorates achievements towards gender equality and women’s empowerment.
On International Women’s Day, USAID is celebrating and advancing the incredible potential of women. Global stability, peace, and prosperity depend on protecting the rights of women and girls around the world. Additionally, research shows that progress in women’s employment, health, and education can lead to greater economic growth and stronger societies. And when women and men are equally empowered as political and social actors, governments are more representative and effective.
Empowering Women and Girls
To end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies, we must empower women and girls. Out of the 1.2 billion people living in extreme poverty, 70 percent are women and girls. Also,women continue to be underrepresented in government, with only 20 percent of women world wide participating as members of parliament or national government.
Here is a good example of India.. If you educate a girl in India''' she can lift her country out of poverty. If India enrolled 1% more girls in secondary school, their GDP would rise by $5.5 billion.
She can feed her family and her country. Investing in girls' education could boost agricultural output in Sub-Saharan Africa by 25%.
She can increase her income. For every year a girl stays in school, her income can increase by 15 to 25%.
She will invest in future generations. Educated women invest 90% of their income into their family.
She will send her children to school, continuing the cycle of education. Educated mothers are more than twice as likely to send their children to school.
Now my question is what if the bombs and the guns today were the weapons to send girls back to school? and those people who are being massacred with different groups were levels of education for girls?
