Hello!Welcome to Gender Wire. It's a newsletter for, and about, the people and ideas pushing Gender Equality in Education in Asia and Pacific forward.
This issue envelopes a wealth of exciting gender related activities, news and resources.
At the regional level, discussions on Gender in Education took place during the 12th Regional Meeting of the National EFA Coordinators held in Seoul, 25-28 July 2011. Member States and EFA partners looked at how to accelerate progress towards 2015 and what kind of support is required. Check out the presentation on Progress and remaining challenges in Gender in Education, delivered in the meeting by EDN Goal 5 writer, Stefan Bengtsson.
At the global level, two new interesting initiatives are being taken by UNESCO:
In October, IIEP will host in Paris a policy forum titled “Gender Equality in Education: Looking Beyond Parity”. The forum will focus on ways of promoting gender equality in education at the classroom, school, and institutional levels while looking at gender differences in student achievement, as well as gender equality in leadership.
You might be wondering what all the fuss about FOSS is. Well, HQ has recently launched the on-line community on “Gender Equality in Free and Open Source Software”. You are invited to join in the conversation on how to promote women’s access and address gender gaps in FOSS.
If your curiosity is piqued, you can learn more about these in the “What’s Going On?” section.
We will sign off with a fresh update on the Gender Drawing Contest. In the most popular cycle of the calendar contest yet, over a 1,000 entries from Bangladesh, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Myanmar, New-Zealand, Pakistan, Papua-New-Guinea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Viet Nam were already submitted. The submissions feature exceptional talent and imagination and we are looking forward to experience and share the unique perspectives of children from more of the region’s countries.
Concerned that your country is not represented yet? Have no fear. The deadline has been extended to 30 September, 2011.
Need a little help with dissemination? Download the pamphlet, available in 14 languages, or adapt the press release.
So for now,
Paalam, Lehitraot and Au revoir!
Elinor, Idit & Adrien
On behalf of the APPEAL Gender Team  Drawing by Le Thi Thu, 10 years old, Viet Nam
WHAT'S NEW?South Asia: Nations Must Punish Apathy on Gender Laws
According to a UN report, much has been achieved in the advancement of women’s rights, but existing gender equality laws in South Asia are inadequately enforced. In order to protect or economically empower women, government officials in the region who fail in their responsibilities to implement these laws need to be held accountable and punished for inaction.
Is Foreign Aid Killing Women?
An unintended impact of foreign aid is that most governments have reduced their own share of domestic spending devoted to health. For every dollar of foreign aid given to the governments of developing nations for health, the governments decreased their own health spending by 43 cents to $1.14.
SlutWalk
The global protest against sexual violence and the notion that women provoke it by the way they dress hits Asia.
See how this was done in Korea and India
South Korea: Double Burden Limits Women’s Fertility Rates and Marriage
Daily, Korean women spend an average of 3 hours and 20 minutes doing household chores compared with 37 minutes by men.
Southeast Asia: Outrage as Obedient Wives Club Spreads Across the Sub-Region
Club claims Muslim women could curb prostitution and domestic violence by becoming 'good whores' to their husbands.
India: Most Stressful Country On Earth for Women
The results of a poll shows that an astounding 87% of Indian women are feeling stressed most of the time, with an additional 82% asserting they have insufficient time to relax.
Malaysia: Transsexual Loses Court Bid to Change Sex
Despite sex-change surgery being legal in mainly Muslim Malaysia, inexistence of laws to address the issue results in Malaysian court ruling to deny a request to legally change a transsexual’s gender status.
Three Girls Sweep Google's Science Fair
Three young women smashed the stereotype that only boys are good at science and became the winners of Google's inaugural science competition.
Domestic Violence High in Asia-Pacific
Nearly half the population of women in the Asia-Pacific region have experienced physical and sexual violence at the hands of their partners.
Tackling Gender Inequality on Multiple Fronts: An Agenda for Women and Girls for the Decade
Executive Director of UN Women Michelle Bachelet calls for a conducive legal and policy environment for change and highlights the need to support the capacity of women and girls to mobilize and build networks and institutions for social justice. ONE GOOD PRACTICE A MONTHFemale School Stipend Program, World Bank (IDA)
In Bangladesh, this programme resulted in girls’ enrollment in secondary school spiking 67 percent in 17 years. Girls pass rates have also soared: Secondary School Certificate pass rates for girls in the project area increased from 39 percent in 2001 to 62.8 percent in 2008.
In Pakistan, beneficiary adolescent girls are more likely to complete school, delay their marriage and have fewer births by the time they are 19 years old. This could translate into gains in future productivity, consumption and inter-generational human capital accumulation.
Learn More: Does Cash for School Influence Young Women’s Behaviour in the Longer Term? Evidence from Pakistan, World Bank | |
WIDER LENS
WHAT'S GOING ON?12th Regional Meeting of National EFA Coordinators, Seoul, 25-28 July 2011
UNESCO Launches the Platform for Gender Equality in Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). Join the discussion!
Gender Equality in Education: Looking Beyond Parity, Paris, 3-4 Oct. 2011
World Teachers' Day 2011, This year’s theme: Teachers for gender equality, 5 Oct. 2011
Regional Conference on Women and Literacy, ASPBAE, Chiang Mai, 17-19 Oct. 2011. For more information, please contact Cecilia Soriano.
Women and Justice Conference: Gender-Based Violence and Justice in South Asia, New Delhi, 22-23 Oct. 2011
NEW TUBEMake it Right for Girls, Global Campaign for Education NEW ON THE SHELFGender and education: a list of resources, UNESCO-IBE
This document compiles resources to assist curriculum developers, researchers and practitioners. Most of the publications and documents are freely accessible online.
Ending the Crisis in Girls’ Education, Global Campaign for Education/RESULTS
This report shows that millions of girls are being forced out of school because of poverty, child labour, early child marriage, the threat of sexual violence, inadequate and poor-quality schools.
Gender, education and information & communication technologies (ICT), August 2011 newsletter, UNGEI East Asia and Pacific
Yes I Can: Leadership for Teens – Training Manual, Women's Learning Partnership
Gender Equality, UN Coherence, and You, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women
Online course to raise awareness of gender issues and dynamics.
UN Resolution on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
The first-ever resolution to mention sexual orientation and gender identity, affirms the universality of human rights, and notes concern about acts of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Progress of the World's Women, UN Women
"For most of the world's women, the laws that exist on paper do not translate to equality and justice."
Engaging Men and Boys in Gender Equality, Vignettes from Asia and Africa, UNFPA
Case studies from Bangladesh, Philippines, Cambodia and Uganda are presented followed by lessons learnt and recommendations for supporting work in the field of male engagement. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIESThe Brookings' Center for Universal Education Opens its Global Scholars Program: Promoting Girls' Education in Developing Countries Closing date: 30 Aug. 2011
The program will offer guest scholars the opportunity to pursue their own independent research on global education issues with a specific focus on girls’ education.
Yayori Award from individuals or groups in Asia working towards ending discrimination against women Closing date: 25 Aug. 2011
Women activists, journalists, and artists who work at the grassroots level with socially marginalized peoples are encouraged to apply. (Prize: 500,000 yen).
Kyrgyzstan, ADB Call for Proposals for NGOs on Strengthening the Capacity of Civil Society in Promoting Equal Benefits for Women in Fiscal Policy Closing date: 10 Aug. 2011
UN Women Call for Proposals from Cambodian NGOs for “Empowering Women Migrant Workers” Closing date: 16 Aug. 2011 |
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