MDG Three in Thailand
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Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women |
Target 4: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education no later than 2015
Scorecard for Thailand: Target already achieved
Thailand has mixed experience with gender equality. Thai girls and boys have equal educational opportunities. Although there is a small gender gap at the primary level, the situation is reversed at tertiary level. Girls also perform better in school, and even better in higher education. The labour market is open, and Thai women participate actively in both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors.
However, women have fewer opportunities for career advancement, in part due to their dual role and excessive responsibility at home, where they both provide family care and share financial responsibility. Also, little progress has been made with regard to women’s participation in electoral politics at national and local levels. To rectify this, the National Women Development Plan sets ambitious targets and places strong emphasis on gender education and the empowerment of women.
Widespread abuse and domestic violence constitutes a horrific violation of the rights and dignity of women. This problem requires renewed and urgent action.