Hyderabad, February 26: Girls still lag behind boys in secondary school education as more than 70 million adolescents are currently out of schools across the world. Due to lack of proper education, girls are predominantly becoming victims of domestic violence and also more susceptible to the risk of HIV infections.
These details were published in the latest report of UNICEF which was released formally by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy at his camp office here today.
The report titled ‘The State of the World’s Children 2011’ emphasises the need to focus more on reaching adolescents, especially girls and invest in education, health and other measures to improve their lives.
As the United Nations announced that period between Aug, 2010 and Aug, 2011 would be observed as the International Year of Youth, this year’s report focuses on youth-related topic ‘Adolescence – an age of opportunity’.
The report affirms that adolescents cannot develop the knowledge and skills they need to navigate risks of exploitation, abuse and violence without education.
Minister for Women Development and Child Welfare Sunitha Lakshma Reddy along with UNICEF-AP and Karnataka CFO Dr Yogendra Mathur and special chief secretary for Women Development and Child Welfare Chaya Ratan were present.
—Agencies