Despite constitutional promises of equality, women in Mozambique are still facing uphill battles in classrooms, workplaces, and public life, according to a report by Afrobarometer.

The research highlights discriminatory hiring practices as the biggest hurdle for women trying to enter the job market. Full-time employment among men is double that of women, and a troubling 42% of citizens still believe men should get first priority when jobs are scarce.

These barriers start early in life. More than one in five people surveyed say families still prioritise boys’ education, while nearly a third report that schoolgirls regularly endure harassment and demands for sexual favors from their own teachers.

Though most Mozambicans say they support equal political rights for women, safety fears and deep-seated social norms continue to hold them back. With almost a third of citizens noting that women are routinely harassed in public, three-quarters are demanding that police and courts take far stronger action to enforce protection.

–ChannelAfrica–