Plan-uk.org: International Day of the Girl
[Special thanks to Alicia, for bringing my attention to this cause and suggesting it as today’s post. Please feel free to make suggestions for posts!]
October 11th this year is the first ever International Day of the Girl – designated by the United Nations following an extensive campaign led by Plan. It’s a day to spread the word that the power of investing in girls is extraordinary. It saves lives. It transforms futures. It unleashes the incredible potential of girls and their communities.
I have collated the information in this post from Plan’s website. Please visit http://www.plan-uk.org/ for full details.
Globally, one in three girls is denied a secondary education by the daily realities of poverty, discrimination and violence. Every day, young girls are forced into marriage, isolated from their friends and subjected to abuse.
For girls living in poverty, every stage of life can be a struggle, as they don’t enjoy the same education, choices and opportunities as boys. No one bears the burden of poverty more than girls. They are…
§ more likely to die young: In many communities, girls lack access to food and medical care because they are valued less than boys. This means that globally, girls are more likely to die before their fifth birthday!
§ more likely to be denied education: One in three girls globally is denied a secondary education by the daily realities of poverty, discrimination and violence. Instead, they are sent to work or made to stay at home to look after siblings and work on household chores.
§ more likely to experience violence: When girls reach puberty, many will face an increased threat of abuse and violence. 150 million girls under 18 have experienced rape or other forms of sexual violence. 140 million women and girls are living with the consequences of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Pregnancy and childbirth are the leading causes of death for girls aged 15-19 in the world’s poorest countries.
§ more likely to be forced into marriage: For many girls, reaching puberty can be the first step towards a forced marriage. One in seven girls in the developing world will be married before they are 15, some as young as five years old.
Why is this happening? Poverty, discrimination, lack of education and government decisions all play a role in keeping girls locked in a cycle of poverty. There are solutions! Plan works with girls to give them the opportunity to shape their own lives. Plan UK’s ‘Because I am a Girl’ campaign aims to remove the barriers that prevent girls from getting a quality education.
No girl should be forced or coerced to marry. Every girl should have the opportunity to complete her education and make choices about her future. Girls hold the power to help break the cycle of poverty- investing in girls’ education is one of the most effective ways to help end poverty. With education, skills and the right support, a girl can transform her world and the world around her, and be a huge part of creating lasting change.
Join the plan to help girls to build themselves and their children a better future by completing their education. Together we have the power to prevent girls from being forgotten.
Right now, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is deciding the development priorities for the next generation. If you believe in the power and potential of girls, sign our petition and call on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to lead action by world leaders to make girls’ education a priority.
To sign the ‘International Day of the Girl’ petition, go to: http://www.plan-uk.org/what-we-do/campaigns/because-i-am-a-girl/day-of-the-girl/sign-the-petition/
To donate, go to: http://www.plan-uk.org/what-we-do/campaigns/because-i-am-a-girl/get-involved/girls-fund/
Thank you for making a difference in the lives of impoverished and oppressed girls worldwide!
Blessings!
Ronell x
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