New Report: Violence Used to Exclude Girls from School in 70 Countries

new report from the United Nations Human Rights Office found that between 2009 and 2014, violence was used to prevent girls from seeking an education in more than 70 countries. The report states that attacks on girls trying to access education often reflect a broader pattern of violence against women and girls in all areas of their lives. Using violence to deny girls an education may lead to additional violations of girls' human rights such as early and forced marriage, domestic violence, and human trafficking.

The report recommends measures to increase the "availability, accessibility, adaptability and acceptability of education for girls while simultaneously launching programmes to tackle discriminatory cultural and social attitudes and practices." The report will be presented to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) to inform the Committee's work on girls' access to education and will be published prior to a 2015 Security Council Review of resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.

Compiled from: UN rights report points to ‘increasing regularity’ of attacks on girls seeking educationUN News Centre (February 9, 2015).