Historical Milestones in Gender Equality Education

CEDAW was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979 and entered into force in 1981.

Sweden was the first country to introduce compulsory education for girls in 1842.

Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to receive a doctorate degree in medicine in the United States in 1849.

The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which granted women the right to vote, was ratified in 1920.

Sri Lanka was the first country to elect a female prime minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, in 1960.

The MDGs were adopted by the United Nations in 2000 and included a goal to achieve gender equality and empower women.

Sweden was the first country to introduce a national policy on gender equality in education in 1994.

The SDGs were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 and included a goal to achieve gender equality and empower women.

Finland has the highest female literacy rate in the world, at 99.9%.

The CRC was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989 and entered into force in 1990.

Canada was the first country to introduce a national policy on gender-based violence in education in 1995.

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was adopted by the United Nations in 1995 and is a landmark document on gender equality.

Sweden has the highest female labor force participation rate in the world, at 80.6%.

SDG 5 on gender equality was adopted by the United Nations in 2015.

Rwanda has the highest female representation in parliament in the world, at 61.3%.