Women must have access to education. Villages must be empowered to ensure education in basic literacy and numeracy for girls and women. By and large, girls continue to be denied education, even though it is now recognized that the single most important investment that a developing country can make for its future is the education of its young girls. Studies show that for every year beyond fourth grade that girls go to school, family size shrinks 20 percent, child deaths drop 10 percent and wages rise 20 percent. Women must gain voice in decision-making.
Experts worldwide stress that democratic decision-making is key to ending hunger.
In India, Bangladesh and Uganda, new legal requirements for up to one-third women in local government have provided women with power to address the social issues that are the basis of human development and economic growth. Women must be aware of their human and legal rights. In many developing countries, laws are on the books that guarantee women's equality. Far too often, however, when laws collide with traditions, the laws are not enforced. In India, dowry has been illegal since 1961, yet its practice is on the rise.