EI calls on governments to guarantee the provision of quality free public education, with qualified teachers and gender-sensitive curricula. Such measures will ensure that girls and women have the chance to not only achieve literacy, but to also become empowered so they can lead their lives free of the fear of violence.

As former UN Secretary General, Kofi Anan, stated in 1999: "Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation. And it is perhaps the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries of geography, culture or wealth. As long as it continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards equality, development, and peace."

Gender-based violence at work persists on a daily basis, in different ways, and is a major challenge to the goal of equality between women and men in the world of work.  It is an important issue for trade unions.

As education trade unions, we can lobby and advocate for school curricula that are sensitive to the gender inequalities and inequities that characterise places of learning and communities across the world.

General attitudes to gender must be transformed if violence against women and girls is to be prevented effectively. Teachers and other education personnel are well-placed to promote commitment to gender-sensitive human rights education and non-violent approaches to conflict resolution.

Click here to see the full EI Statement