Indeed the right to education and information is one of the core rights enshrined in the International Planned Parenthood Federation's 'Charter on Sexual and Reproductive Rights' . Lack of knowledge is central to women's lack of control in the area of their own reproductive health. To people like Felipa Ccusi , a Peruvian woman who was threatened with being put on trial unless she agreed to be sterilised. Had she known her rights, she would have known before the operation that this was a fraudulent threat. Awareness is also needed to challenge dangerous cultural norms - such as those that undervalue girls against boys.
Boys continue the family bloodline and traditionally support ageing parents in later life.
Yet feelings are changing in the younger generation - partly because of access to more diverse information. On the issue of female genital mutilation, the international agencies aren't mincing their words. New technologies can also be helpful in supporting changes in attitude and increasing awareness. He cited the case of a Caribbean experiment using satellite communications to connect local schools, children's hospitals and primary health care facilities. There are a lot of these kinds of initiatives starting up across the world - from Turkey to Ghana to Pakistan.