The Situation of Girls and Women in Iran
ISSUE
Accessing and staying in the education system is a challenge for many girls in Iran, particularly in rural areas. Regional disparities must also be addressed to improve the overall situation of women. Transitioning from primary to lower secondary school is a problem for many girls, often because of the great distances they must travel for the nearest school. Cultural barriers also hinder girls from continuing their education beyond primary level. Advocacy with parents and communities must therefore be encouraged. Women in rural areas face challenges also. In urban areas, female literacy reaches nearly 82 per cent while in rural areas, the rate is closer to 62 per cent. Other challenges include a lack of broad-based participation, a lack of access to information, knowledge and resources, domestic violence and low levels of involvement in development programmes.ACTION UNICEF’s Country Programme supports reforms which impact teaching and learning practices in schools, and also the relationship between communities and schools. A rural girls’ education model pioneered by UNICEF was effective in mobilizing girls’ groups in Sistan and Baluchistan and resulted in reducing drop-out rates and changing negative attitudes towards girls attending school. In 2005, workshops were organized for local authorities and community leaders to facilitate the social and economic participation of women at the community level. Further workshops were provided to rural women on life skills and interpersonal communication skills. Workshops on women’s empowerment are ongoing.
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