Sex Equality "Sex equality impossible without more help from boys and men", says report
22 September 2011 Juba, South Sudan. September 22, 2011 – GIRLS’ standing in the world cannot be improved without far more positive participation from the boys and men in their lives, a major report says. The annual ‘Because I Am A Girl’ report which assesses the state of the world’s girls, states that fathers, brothers, husbands play an essential role in creating true gender equality. The report produced by international children’s rights organisation Plan, makes recommendations for action, showing policymakers and planners what can make a real difference to girls’ lives all over the world. The report also includes primary research with more than 4,000 children, which reveals that many stereotypical beliefs about gender roles in society are still very entrenched among young people. But revealingly the survey also shows that children are actually happier when they see their parents sharing household responsibilities, rather than sticking to rigid roles. Plan International CEO Nigel Chapman said: “It is widely recognized that empowering girls is a key to unlock families from poverty and deprivation. But since we began monitoring the state of the world’s girls back in 2007 we have rightly been asked: ‘ So, what about the boys?’ “Of course, many boys are affected by poverty, lack of opportunity and also violence. But girls face double discrimination by being young and by being female. Everyone, including boys, benefits from a more just, equal world but it cannot be attained by girls alone – we must all play a more active part.” Elders member and former Brazil President Fernando Henrique Cardoso who wrote the report foreword said fathers in particular have a key role to play in leaving old ‘machismo’ ideas behind. “I call on all men and boys to throw their weight behind the campaign for equality and to challenge those who oppose women’s rights and equality,” he said. “The complementary skills and qualities of both men and women are needed to tackle the enormous challenges we face. This will not be easy. But we will all gain from such changes. Societies with greater equality between men and women, girls and boys, are healthier, safer, more prosperous and more truly democratic.” “In South Sudan, Plan is working with communities on redefining gender roles,” explains Plan South Sudan Country Director Fikru Abebe. “In doing so we are empowering communities to recognize the positive long term benefits of educating girls and providing opportunities for girls to enter careers perceived to be exclusively for men.” To bring about change Plan is calling upon campaigners, or those in positions of power: To transform school curricula to challenge stereotypes and acknowledge difference To support girls’ and boys’ participation in the creation of policies to improve gender equality To make school safe for girls and boys To challenge discrimination and engage men and boys For a full copy of the report –‘So What About Boys?’, further details on the primary research, case studies, film and a long-term cohort study on girls please go to: http://plan-international.org/girls/ Posted in: Press Releases -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
