Mauritania: The Struggle for Women’s Education

The struggle for women’s education in Mauritania has been a long and arduous one, and the situation is only getting worse. Despite the fact that Mauritania is a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the country still lags behind when it comes to gender equality. This is especially true when it comes to educational opportunities for women.

According to UNICEF, only 22 percent of Mauritanian girls complete primary school compared to 49 percent of boys. Women are also disproportionately affected by high dropout rates due to early marriage or pregnancy, and they are more likely to be illiterate than men. Despite progress in recent years, there remains an urgent need for greater investment in quality education for all children, particularly girls.

“Women’s rights must be seen as human rights,” said Zainab Hawa Bangura, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. “It is essential that we recognize the importance of educating girls and young women if we are to create a more equitable future.”

The Mauritanian government has made efforts to provide greater access to education for girls through its National Program for Education Development (PNDE). However, many challenges remain, such as inadequate infrastructure and resources needed for teaching and learning, as well as limited access due to distance from schools or economic constraints.

In order to address these issues, increased efforts are needed from both the government and civil society organizations at both local and national levels. There must also be greater awareness about the importance of educating girls so that they can reach their full potential and become active members of their communities.

“Education is key in empowering women,” said El Hadj Amadou Sall, Minister of Education in Mauritania. “We must work together towards providing equal access to quality education so that all children have an opportunity to reach their goals.”

By investing in quality education for all children – regardless of gender – countries like Mauritania can ensure a brighter future for generations to come.