AMERICA/EL SALVADOR - Girls are more disadvantaged and discriminated than boys

San Salvador (Agenzia Fides) - "Being a child" is the title of the report recently presented by the organization Plan El Salvador, which deals with children's rights, where the main obstacles to the development of girls in the country are highlighted. According to this study, girls around the world suffer from double discrimination due to age and gender. These include malnutrition, fewer opportunities for education and development, and major forms of violence. Some studies indicate that investing in the education and development of girls have an impact and a better benefit for the economic and social development of people. A worrying phenomenon is the withdrawal of many girls from school or marriages at a young age and more likely to be subject to violence. The report stresses that gender equality would only be good for everyone, children and adults. Eight concrete actions were proposed. These include ensuring that pre-school education promotes equality between males and females and involve parents, to support the participation of girls and boys in political initiatives to improve sex education, to ensure that schools are safe for both genders, promote campaigns against discrimination, to pass laws that encourage parents to participate actively in the growth of their children. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 05/12/2011)