Statement by the Sudanese Coalition for Education for All (SCEFA) on International Women’s Day 2026
Gender-Transformative Education as a Pathway to Achieving Justice
Rights. Justice. Action. The theme of International Womens Day 2026 comes at a critical moment. Despite progress in many places, a recent report by UN Women warns that the systems established to protect women and girls are falling short, exposing millions to discrimination, violence, and impunity amid rising backlash against gender equality and increasing violations of fundamental rights worldwide.
On this International Womens Day, the Sudanese Coalition for Education for All (SCEFA) reaffirms that education is one of the most powerful tools for achieving justice and gender equality. Every girl, adolescent, and woman has the right to access education and learn in safe and inclusive environments.
Education systems must address the root causes of inequality rather than merely enrolling girls in schools. This requires a comprehensive approach that promotes gender justice across all stages of learning—from early childhood education to higher education, including youth and adult education.
Despite global progress, millions of girls continue to face barriers to education due to poverty, conflict, discrimination, early marriage, gender-based violence, and unequal social norms. Globally, more than 122 million girls remain out of school.
In Sudan, recent estimates indicate that more than 8 million school-age children are out of school due to the ongoing conflict, with girls representing a significant proportion of those affected. This places Sudan among the countries facing one of the largest education crises in the world.
UN reports also indicate that a large number of girls in Sudan have lost access to education due to displacement, school closures, early marriage, and worsening economic conditions.
In this context, the Sudanese Coalition for Education for All (SCEFA) reaffirms its commitment to working with national and international partners to guarantee girls’ right to education and to rebuild an inclusive and equitable education system that places girls at the center of recovery and reconstruction efforts.
Call to Action: Prioritizing Gender-Transformative Education
On International Women’s Day 2026, the gender-responsive education movement emphasizes gender-transformative education as a key pillar for achieving gender justice and ensuring the right to education for all.
This includes:
Financing gender equality in education by investing in equitable public education systems.
Promoting inclusive curricula that challenge stereotypes and recognize women’s contributions to history, science, and politics.
Integrating gender equality into curricula at all levels of education.
Creating safe and inclusive learning environments free from violence and discrimination.
Implementing education policies in emergencies and conflict settings to ensure girls are not deprived of education during crises.
Promoting women’s leadership in education and increasing the participation of women and girls in decision-making.
Investing in teacher training on gender-responsive pedagogical approaches.
Strengthening gender-sensitive data collection to support equitable education policies.
When girls and women learn, lead, and thrive, societies prosper and democracies grow stronger.
On this International Women’s Day, the Sudanese Coalition for Education for All (SCEFA) calls on all partners to renew their commitment to building equitable and inclusive education systems that bring real transformation to the lives of girls and women in Sudan and around the world.
Sudanese Coalition for Education for All (SCEFA)