Why Governments Need To Invest In The Education OF Girls In Developing Nations

According to a new report issued by the International Labour Office (ILO) for the World Day Against Child Labor on June 12, the global financial crisis could push an increasing number of children, particularly girls, into child labour.”
The ILO report, entitled Give Girls a Chance: Tackling child labour, a key to the future (Note 1), notes that while recent global estimates indicate the number of children involved in child labour has been falling, the financial crisis threatens to erode this progress.

The most relevant point made in the report is “the importance of investing in the education of girls as an effective way of tackling poverty. “

Based on the International Labour Office’s research “educated girls are more likely to earn more as adults, marry later in life, have fewer and healthier children and have decision-making power within the household.”
The United Nations Population Fund,State of the World Population, 1990 confirms that when a girl in the developing world recieves seven or more years of education, she marries four years later, and has 2.2 fewer children.

The report asserted the danger of girls being forced into child labor is linked to evidence that in many countries families give preference to boys when making decisions on education of children. It further elaborates that because of the increase in poverty as result of the economic crisis, poor families with several children, may be forced to decide which children can remain in school
Girls are particularly at risk in cultures that place a higher value on education of male children.

Statistics estimate that more than one quarter of the population in Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa are girls and young women ages 10-24. (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.)

Michele Jankanish, Director of the ILO International Program wrote: “ The opportunities or lack of opportunities that girls are afforded early in life may well determine their future and that of future generations. Girls have the right to grow and develop free of child labour and girls have the right to education. We must give girls a chance to make these rights a reality.”

Further evidence of why girls in developing nations are at risk was revealed in the report based on statistics that estimate 100 million girls between 5 and 17 years old are believed to be involved in child labor worldwide. Of these more than half (53 million) are estimated to be engaged in hazardous work.

Especially alarming is the fact that girls constitute a large proportion of the children engaged in some of the most dangerous forms of child labour, including forced and bonded labour and prostitution.

Another factor contributing to the vulnerability of girls in developing nations, is the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, according to the report: “The spread of HIV/AIDS has a major impact on girls as they are often forced to take on additional responsibilities inside and outside the household.”

The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS estimates that 75 percent of 15-24- year olds living with HIV/AIDS in Africa are female, up from 62 percent in 2001.

Written by Jackie O'Neal