Every woman’s right to learn Tuesday, March 8, 2011 - 10:36

In the 100 years since the first International Women's Day, gender equality has significantly improved, but there are still many challenges for ensuring women have the right to learn and improve their lives, with access to good quality learning opportunities. 

The NIACE event, Every woman's right to learn, will give participants the chance to:

• contribute to the development of a manifesto that will outline the role learning has in improving equality for all women regardless of their age, status, health, ethnicity and sexuality;

• identify practical ways to use the manifesto in their own lives to reduce inequality and secure rights for women learners; and

• celebrate the achievements of women learners and share ways of continuing this celebration wherever they learn.

Carol Taylor, Director of Operations at NIACE, said:

"As we celebrate the centenary of International Women's Day this year, it gives us a chance to think about all those women who fought, and often died, in the cause of women's equality. Much of that fight was for equality of access to education, and the impact they knew this would have on their lives and those of their families. This event will give us the chance to listen to what women have to say about what learning has done for them and what their plans and aspirations are for the future."

Participants heard from a range of speakers, including Dame Gail Rebuck - CEO of Random House Publishers and Chair of Quick Reads - and other women, about the role learning has played in transforming their lives and the challenges they have encountered.