Push for Literacy

International Campaign Against Honour Killings is a website devoted to shedding light on "honor" killings and other human rights violations around the world.

On Sunday, a post on their website quoting News International indicated that in Pakistan, "Mir Nadir Magsi, chief of Magsi tribe, has said no nation could compete with other nations without improving the education standard....Magsi advised that they should get their children properly educated, especially the girls. 'Education to girls improves the whole of family...Tribal clashes are the signs of illiteracy and ignorance and in the present-day world, there is no room for tribal clashes.' "

Thank goodness Magsi has the sense to push for education for women. One of my favorite quotes is: "Educate a man and you educate a person; educate a woman and you educate a family." Looking at the Middle East, I have long argued that until they raise the status of women and educate them properly, they will not advance. Women traditionally spend the bulk of the time with their children and naturally impart knowledge to them during day to day interactions. Without a solid education themselves, they will have less to impart and their children, male and female, will be disadvantaged-- quite likely into adulthood.

Pakistan, as indicated in Friday's post, has the dubious honor of being one of the leaders in honor murders and had earlier refused to modify their rape laws to allow for conviction of rapists. Hopefully, men like Magsi will grow in number so that real change can be affected for the troubled women of that nation.

Hattip: The Bos'un Locker. Thanks for the website.