Paragraph 83(c)-(d) of the Beijing Platform for Action. Chapter IV. B. Education and Training of Women
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2018/10/15
Strategic objective B.4.
Develop non-discriminatory education and training
Actions to be taken
83. By Governments, educational authorities and other educational and academic institutions:
c. Develop training programmes and materials for teachers and educators that raise awareness of their own role in the educational process, with a view to providing them with effective strategies for gender-sensitive teaching;
d. Take actions to ensure that female teachers and professors have the same opportunities as and equal status with male teachers and professors, in view of the importance of having female teachers at all levels and in order to attract girls to school and retain them in school;
Beijing Declaration (1995)
The training programmes and materials for those who teach the next generations are crucial for the integration into society as well as preparation for the modern world. One without the veneer of powerful ignorance, where old superstitions and stereotypes could legitimately, within the evidentiary framework of the time, make sense.
It is much less benign now. Why? Because the evidence tells us better. Thus, the educational materials and processes should fit more into this updated framework of the world. One with less prejudice, stereotyping, and deliberate attempts at the restrictions, mentally and behaviourally, of men or women, girls or boys.
The inclusion of gender-sensitive teaching becomes important within this framework too. But there is more to consider: the actions, the concrete steps, that can be taken by the women educators from K-graduate school to reduce the bias or prejudice against vulnerable populations.
Often, and relevant to this article, these have been girls and women, especially, as per the focus, in the educational spheres. How can we reduce the level of prejudice and bigotry against girls and women based on stereotypes? How can we reinform with real evidence the attitudes and opinions of the current and upcoming generations rather than perpetuate ignorant stereotypes of the past?
Working within the educational curricula and the next generation of teachers is one methodology, another is to provide equal access to the opportunities in education, in the professional arena, for both men and women at all levels.
It is important to have both women and men as teachers. At the moment, based on historical pigeon-holing of women and some preference in professions, we have far more women in the educational areas than men, educationally and professionally.
But in developing nation contexts, the effort should be on the inclusion of more girls and women into education. This takes the finesse of building bonds of trust and working to encourage girls to enter into school and pursue their dreams without fear of reprisal from religious leaders, town elders, community and family, and government and cultural coercion & discouragement.
This will and has been a long battle. But the arc in this historical moment continues to be more towards the positive, not as an inevitable trajectory from on high but through the incredible sacrifice and work of those who came before and had the vision and perseverance to see that vision through to its next stage of development – of which we see now.
–One can find similar statements in other documents, conventions, declarations and so on, with the subsequent statements of equality or women’s rights:
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the Preamble, Article 16, and Article 25(2).
- Convention Against Discrimination in Education (1960) in Article 1.
- The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) in Article 3, Article 7, and Article 13.
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966).
- Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1979).
- Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1984).
- The Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (1993).
- Beijing Declaration(1995).
- United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000).
- Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (2000).
- The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa or the “Maputo Protocol” (2003).
- Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence or the Istanbul Convention (2011) Article 38 and Article 39.
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