Plan’s research into the state of the world’s girls and young women over the past four years has revealed that they are often among the most vulnerable people in their communities, more likely to miss out on education and enjoying fewer employment opportunities than their brothers.
Girls’ human rights are not being realised. In addition, there are very few, if any, cultures where women are not the primary carers for their own and other people’s children. Give a girl skills and opportunities and she will pass them on.
That investment in a healthier, better educated, more economically capable generation will, multiplied, have a massive impact on the productivity and economic viability of the country that invested, initially, in just one girl.
Despite this, almost half of countries are not on track to meet the Millennium Development Goal target on gender parity in education.
We are committed to drawing attention to the vital role that girls’ education will play in meeting all of the MDGs and ensuring that governments around the world make it a priority.
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