Editing Mali (section)

=== Gender equality ===
In 2017, Mali ranked 157th out of 160 countries in the gender inequality index as reported by the [[United Nations Development Programme]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/all/themes/hdr_theme/country-notes/MLI.pdf|title=Human Development Indices and Indicators: 2018 Statistical Update: Mali|website=United Nations Development Programme|access-date=24 November 2018|archive-date=25 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325093238/http://hdr.undp.org/sites/all/themes/hdr_theme/country-notes/MLI.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The Malian Constitution states that it protects women's rights, however many laws exist that discriminate against women.<ref name=":02">{{cite web|url=http://www.omct.org/files/2004/07/2409/eng_2003_07_mali.pdf|title=Violence against Women in Mali|date=7 July 2004|website=World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)|access-date=24 November 2018|archive-date=8 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808040337/http://www.omct.org/files/2004/07/2409/eng_2003_07_mali.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Provisions in the laws limit women's decision-making power after marriage, in which the husband becomes superior to his wife.<ref name=":02" /> Women are blamed for not maintaining the appearance of their husbands and are also blamed for the actions of their children if they misbehave, which encourages the cultural attitude that women are inferior to men.<ref name=":02" /> The lack of participation of women in politics is due to the idea that politics is associated with men and that women should avoid this sector.<ref name=":02" /> Education is also an area in which boys dominate, since it is a better investment for the parents.<ref name=":02" /> As traditional values and practices have contributed to gender inequality in Mali, conflict and lawlessness have also influenced the growing gap in gender through gender-based violence.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/Mali%20Gender%20Assessment%20Addendum%20Final.pdf|title=USAID MALI:ADDENDUM TO THE 2012 GENDER ASSESSMENT|date=May 2015|website=United States Agency of International Development|access-date=24 November 2018|archive-date=5 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905122408/https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/Mali%20Gender%20Assessment%20Addendum%20Final.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The unstable government of Mali has led to organizations like USAID attempting to improve the lives of the people, mainly women and girls' rights in order to re-engage the development of the country.<ref name=":2" />

==== Gender relations ====
Religion, the patriarchal norms, and [[gender-based violence]] are major negative factors shaping the life of women in Mali.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/Democratic%20Governance/Women-s%20Empowerment/MaliFinal%20-%20HiRes.pdf|title=GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: MALI CASE STUDY|date=2012|website=United Nations Development Programme|access-date=24 November 2018|archive-date=18 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218054809/http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/Democratic%20Governance/Women-s%20Empowerment/MaliFinal%20-%20HiRes.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Patriarchal norms cause major gender inequalities and lead to male domination within the household.<ref name=":1" /> Girls learn household activities like chores, cooking, childcare, etc. at a young age and are expected to take the main responsibility of household chores throughout their life. This hampers women's ability to enter the formal workforce and leads to a lack of education of girls.<ref name=":1" /> Gender-based violence in Mali happens both on a national and a family level. At the national level, in 2012 the conflict in the Northern part of the country increased cases of kidnappings and rapes.<ref name=":2" /> The conflict also reduced women's access to resources, economy, and opportunities.<ref name=":2" /> At the household level, Malian women face gender-based violence through domestic violence, forced marriages, and marital rape.<ref name=":02" /> The Demographic Health Survey for Mali in 2013 stated that 76% of women and 54% of men believed physical harm towards women was acceptable if the women burnt food, argued back, went out without notifying her husband, or refused sexual relations with her husband.<ref name=":2" /> In 2024, Mali officials approved a bill criminalising [[LGBTQ rights in Mali|homosexual relations]] between same-sex couples.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Billson |first=Chantelle |date=2024-11-05 |title=Mali moves to criminalise homosexuality for the first time with new anti-gay law |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/11/05/mali-moves-to-criminalise-homosexuality-with-new-anti-gay-law/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=PinkNews}}</ref>

==== Area of opportunity ====
The lack of education has increased gender inequality in Mali because not many women are working outside the household are even participating in the Public Administration sector.<ref name=":1" /> After adjusting the entrance requirements and access to education, girls still have lower enrollment rates and less access to formal education.<ref name=":1" /> Drop-out rates for girls are 15% higher than that of boys because they have a higher responsibility at home and most parents refuse to allow all their children to go to school, so boys tend to become educated.<ref name=":1" /> Similarly, technical and vocational education has a lower numbers of girls participating and are inadequately distributed in the country because the training centers are focused in the urban cities.<ref name=":1" /> Finally, higher education for girls consist of short programs because early marriages prevent most girls from pursuing a longer term education program like those in science.<ref name=":1" /> Although women do not have the same access of education, in recent decades women have been entering and representing in decision-making positions in the Public Administration sector.<ref name=":1" /> Out of 147 members of Parliament, 15 were women in 2010.<ref name=":1" /> Recent decades show that women are slowly joining important decision-making positions which is changing the attitude and status of women in Mali, which has led to the promotion of women's rights in the political sphere.<ref name=":1" />

==== Efforts ====
Legislation at the international and national levels have been implemented over the decades to help promote women's rights in Mali.<ref name=":1" /> At the international, Mali signed the [[Beijing Platform for Action]] which suggest that women should participate in decision-making and the convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women which is the foundation to women's rights promotion.<ref name=":1" /> At the national level, Mali's Constitution has the Decree No. 092-073P-CTSP that claims equality to all Malian citizens and discrimination is prohibited, which has not been followed.<ref name=":1" /> The Poverty Reduction Strategy Programme (PRSP) and the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Programme under the Malian Government seek to improve the well-being of the citizens, and changes to governance and gender in the country.<ref name=":1" /> The Ministry for Advancement of Women, Children and the Family was created specifically for women and children so that their basics rights and needs get met under the law.<ref name=":1" /> Although there exists legislation and policy for gender equality the institutionalization of the National Gender Policy of Mali is necessary to support the importance of women's rights.<ref name=":1" /> Strengthening and the support of girls' and women's access to education and training is recommended to improve gender equality in Mali.<ref name=":1" /> The involvement of international organizations like USAID assist Mali financially to enhance their development through the efforts of the improvement of women's rights.<ref name=":2" />