Education is an important tool for enabling women to participate fully in social and economic development. It is the basic tool in empowering them so that they can attain economic independence. In turn, this independence plays a crucial role in preventing violence against women and girls.
Therefore, education should be viewed as the primary means to teach boys and girls about relationships based on gender equality, consent, respect and reciprocity, as a way of preventing stereotypes and violence against women and girls. This includes reproductive and sexual health.
Poverty and a low-economic status strongly impact gender equality in education, and have a disproportionate effect on access for girls to schools and universities. But this isn't the only reason.
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Gender stereotyping and sexism remain the greatest obstacles to achieving gender equality in European society. This is why it is so important that we continue to fight gender stereotypes in terms of fields of study, academic curricula and performance in and throughout formal and informal education.
Let's also remember that gendered perceptions of academic subjects and career choices are one of the main deciding factors when picking training options. This highlights the importance of motivating girls to participate in the fields of science, engineering, technology and ICT, as well as rural and creative industries.
We should welcome all initiatives and programmes that aim to encourage girls to pursue a career or a degree in these areas.
This is why parliament's culture and education committee has been asked for its opinion on the women's rights and gender equality committee's report on empowering girls through education.
The report calls on member states to develop or strengthen national regulations, with a view to countering the negative influence of stereotyped gender roles that arise from values conveyed through the media and advertising.
Too often, these images undermine the work done in schools. We have also stressed the importance of including measures targeting the education of girls and women in development cooperation projects.
EU structural funds, particularly the European social fund, could also be used to support educational projects with a gender-specific nature, as well as gender-sensitive educational structures.
Europe can't afford to waste the skills and talents of over half its population. This would be unlawful, unfair and stupid.