UN Women’s Education Fixation: Are they missing the Bigger Picture?

As reported yesterday, UN Women (UNW) in their first session of SGMUN was quick to establish their favoritism of education and it seems to a large extent, they are still stuck on the topic. Ms. Magazine are strong supporters of education and believe that it is vital to improve gender equality. However, we can not help but feel they are missing the bigger picture of gender-based violence. Disregarding the urgency of the problem at a time when rates of gender-based violence are increasing worldwide. 

The Delegate of Nigeria when asked what they will do to combat gender-based violence happening right now merely stated that there is already legislation in place, so they would rather focus on the long-term. Ignoring statistics showing that even in their country legislation is failing and violence is on the rise. 

When questioned about how they imagine educating women will specifically help gender-based violence, delegates from all blocs like to revert to generalities and broader concepts of gender equality and female empowerment. There appears to be a general belief that education as a whole will magically solve the problems, whether there is anything in the curriculum to address specific areas of gender-based violence. Something highlighted by their disregard for the need to also educate men on gender-based violence and many delegates discomfort with addressing that gender-based violence often has a sexual nature as well. 

UNW seems to believe that educating women is the be-all and end-all to solving gender-based violence, ignoring how even in highly educated societies gender-based violence is still running rampant. To create long-term change, there is a need for broader cultural change that will come not only from long-term changes like education for both women and men but also from short-term actions that show support to women facing gender-based violence right now. We need to see that society practices what it preaches. Otherwise, how will girls and boys currently being educated believe it? 

We need to be shown that society is actively working to support women right now, yet we are continuously seeing women being failed and witnessing a society that does not want to help women subject to gender-based violence.