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Formative research in the Meena Communication Initiative
1UNICEF/Meena Project, London, UK.
Promotion & Education
|June 1, 1996
Summary
South Asian governments launched the Decade of the Girl Child to combat severe discrimination against girls. Research highlighted extreme gender inequality in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Development Studies
Background:
- The 1990s marked the Decade of the Girl Child in South Asia.
- This initiative aimed to address profound discrimination against girls in the region.
- Prior research by UNICEF and other organizations documented widespread gender inequality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the severe discrimination faced by girls in South Asia.
- To underscore the need for targeted interventions during the Decade of the Girl Child.
- To inform policy and action based on documented evidence of gender bias.
Main Methods:
- Review of research studies conducted by UNICEF and other agencies.
- Analysis of documented aspects and degrees of discrimination against girls.
- Focus on countries with the most severe conditions: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan.
Main Results:
- Girls in South Asia faced extreme discrimination.
- Discrimination was particularly severe in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan.
- Pre-Decade research provided a strong evidence base for the initiative.
Conclusions:
- The Decade of the Girl Child was a necessary response to deeply entrenched gender inequality.
- Evidence-based documentation was crucial for understanding and addressing the issue.
- Continued efforts are needed to dismantle systemic discrimination against girls in South Asia.