In spite of miracles in Information Technology and Science, the expansion of the global market economy, the sophistication of weapons of mass destruction, and other unprecedented developments in society, one crucial advancement still remains a challenge in the 3rd Millennium: attaining equality and respect for all women. Centuries-old cultural prejudices, combined with politically, economically and socially institutionalised patriarchy have brought forth innumerable sins against women and girls, the greatest being knowledge apartheid, keeping them away from attaining free basic education. Is it not a shame that the majority of the 115 million out-of-school children and 860 million illiterate adults in the world are women and girls? Indeed it is. However, instead of despairing, we must accept it as a challenge and join our hands together to fight it out !

I cannot envisage any other way to make the world a better place, filled with justice, peace and equality, than to ensure that quality education for all girls is a top global priority.

Kailash Satyarthi
Chair
Global Campaign for Education