THE GENDER GAP AND EDUCATIONAL CRISIS IN HONDURAS
Located in the heart of Central America, Honduras touches both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and borders Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. Its history, political situations and social context have resulted in a population characterized by warmth and resilience.
With a gender gap of 72.2%. (Gender Gap Index, 2014-2021)
In addition to poverty, women and girls in Honduras are in a disadvantaged position to access basic services, education, public health and paid employment. They are also at higher risk of domestic violence, sexual abuse, femicide and overall life insecurity.
GIRLS ARE AT A GREATER RISK OF DROPPING
OUT OF SCHOOL
Confined and facing an aggravated situation of food insecurity and water scarcity, girls in urban slums are impacted by the historical division of gender roles built on biases, discrimination and unequal practices. Most girls are forced to be responsible for household chores and duties, while being exposed to greater risks of gender-based violence.
THE GENDER GAP AND EDUCATIONAL CRISIS IN HONDURAS
Honduras is one of the countries with the highest poverty rates in the world.
66%
of the population are living in poverty
38%
of the population are living in extreme poverty
54%
of the population are living in urban areas
The COVID-19 Pandemic:
The biggest alteration to the educational system in the country.
Girls in urban settlements are at risk of dropping out of school due to challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Poverty and Inequality
Urban settlers (70%) depend on the informal sector*, facing an aggravated situation of food insecurity, water scarcity and the rising cost of electricity, reducing their opportunities to access and prioritize education.
The informal sector refers to the economy that is neither taxed nor monitored by any form of government. This includes day-to day payment and opportunities and constitutes a significant portion of the economies in developing countries.
Schools Closed
During the COVID-19 pandemic, all schools in Honduras remain closed, and the urban population continues to follow strict lockdowns, mobility restrictions and social distancing. The only available means to access education is through internet platforms, leaving more than half of the students out of school.
Digital Divide
Only 16.6% of urban settlers in Honduras have access to internet at home, leaving an estimated 250 thousand students with no access to education.
Traditional Gender Stereotypes
Gender stereotypes place the responsibility for domestic and care work on girls, causing a greater burden of unpaid work, which can affect their physical and emotional health; and especially their academic performance.
HIGHER RISK OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the decrease in income, which increases economic dependency and generates greater tensions within the family environment, exposing girls to higher risks of domestic and gender-based violence.
Compounded by confinement, girls’ mobility to seek help is limited. According to the National Emergency System 911, reports of violence against girls and women in Honduras has increased significantly, with more than 40 thousand cases of aggression in 2020. This means that one girl/woman was assaulted every hour during the COVID-19 Pandemic (UNFPA, 2021).
HIGHER RISK OF UNWANTED AND EARLY PREGNANCIES
Girls in urban slums do not have access to information for decision-making, which results in unwanted and/or early pregnancies. The proportion of Honduran adolescent girls between the ages of 15 and 19 who are mothers or pregnant for the first time is 24%. This proportion increases to 35% in conditions of poverty and extreme poverty.
Within the prioritization of the COVID-19 pandemic, in the public health system, there are high repercussions on the provision of essential services for women and girls, affecting their access to sexual and reproductive health and care. Primarily affected are girls and women with limited economic resources, those living in peri-urban and isolated areas, those belonging to indigenous and Afro-Honduran communities or living with a disability.