Education Cannot Wait Champions Women’s and Girls’ Empowerment on International Women’s Day

NEW YORK – On International Women’s Day, Education Cannot Wait joins partners worldwide in advocating for human rights and the empowerment of women and girls everywhere.

Empowerment begins with education. Globally, women still account for nearly two-thirds of all adults unable to read, according to UNESCO. The challenge is exacerbated on the frontlines of armed conflict, climate change, and forced displacement, where approximately 234 million children in crisis contexts, half of whom are girls, require urgent support in accessing quality education.

In Afghanistan, an entire generation of girls is being systematically denied their right to education, and thus deliberately disempowered. About 2.5 million Afghan girls are out of school today, according to UNESCO. This denial of education hinders their ability to contribute to the rebuilding of a nation that has endured prolonged suffering.

This week, a new feature film titled ‘Rule Breakers’ highlights the stories of hope, courage, and resilience of the Afghan Girls Robotics Team. In real life, ECW’s Global Champion Somaya Faruqi led that team to victory in competitions around the world. Today, she joins a long list of global advocates calling on leaders to listen to #AfghanGirlsVoices and advocate for a return to equality and access to quality education for all the girls and women of Afghanistan.

Education is also fundamental in claiming and protecting human rights. Today, we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a defining commitment to ensuring human rights for women everywhere.

“Investing in formal and non-formal education and training for girls and women, with its exceptionally high social and economic return, has proved to be one of the best means of achieving sustainable development and economic growth that is both sustained and sustainable.” ~ Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

Education is the most important investment of all: a quality education for every girl means the empowerment of every woman. It is not a shortcut, nor an unattainable dream. Education is the path.