Education and gender equality

Gender equality and education

From access to empowerment

Gender equality is a global priority at UNESCO. Globally, 122 million girls and 128 million boys are out of school. Women still account for almost two-thirds of all adults unable to read.

UNESCO calls for attention to gender equality throughout the education system in relation to access, content, teaching and learning context and practices, learning outcomes, and life and work opportunities. The UNESCO Strategy for gender equality in and through education (2019-2025) focuses on a system-wide transformation to benefit all learners equally in three key areas: better data to inform action, better legal and policy frameworks to advance rights and better teaching and learning practices to empower. 

"Her Education, Our Future" documentary film

Released on 7 March for 2024 International Women’s Day, “Her Education, Our Future” is a documentary film following the lives of Anee, Fabiana, Mkasi and Tainá – four young women across three continents who struggle to fulfill their right to education. 

This documentary-film offers a spectacular dive into the transformative power of education and showcases how empowering girls and women through education improves not only their lives, but also those of their families, communities and indeed all of society. 

Schoolgirls Education
#HerEducationOurFuture: investing in girls’ and women’s education: a smart investment to accelerate development
2024
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UNESCO’s efforts to achieve gender equality in and through education: 2022 highlights
UNESCO
2023
UNESCO
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Leave no one behind: gender equality in transforming education summit national commitments
UNESCO
2023
UNESCO
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#HerEducationOurFuture: innovation and technology for gender equality; the latest facts on gender equality in education
2023
UNESCO
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UNESCO guidance on communicating on gender equality in and through education
UNESCO
2022
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Global education monitoring report 2022: gender report, deepening the debate on those still left behind
UNESCO
2022
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When schools shut: gendered impacts of COVID-19 school closures
UNESCO
2021
Supported with funding from the Global Partnership for Education
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From access to empowerment: UNESCO strategy for gender equality in and through education 2019-2025
UNESCO
2019
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Monitoring SDG 4: equity and inclusion in education

Resources from UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report.