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New York (11 October) – THE CHILD rights organisation Plan International today unveils a huge success in its campaign to make girls’ education a global priority, which is supported by joint Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai.
Two years ago, Plan International launched a petition to put pressure on the UN to place girls’ education firmly on the post-2015 development agenda, which will replace the current Millennium Development Goals.
Now, on the third annual International Day of the Girl, Plan has announced that it has surpassed its expectations by raising over 2.3 million hands for girls’ education.
Malala, who became a global spokesperson on the subject after she was shot by the Taliban in October 2012 for going to school, showed her support for Plan’s Because I am a Girl campaign just last year. The Nobel Peace Prize winner raised her hand for girls’ education, encouraging many more people to do the same.
Nigel Chapman, CEO of Plan International, said:
“Malala’s story has struck a chord with millions of people and she has become a beacon of inspiration to millions.”
Plan’s petition was presented to Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General. UNESCO is steering forward the Secretary General’s Global Education First Initiative, and Irina Bokova accepted the raised hands on behalf of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
“I thank Plan International for this initiative, and all those who raised their hands for girls’ education,” said Bokova. “There is no more powerful force for human rights and dignity, for social inclusion and sustainable growth, and this is why educating girls must stand at the heart of the new global sustainable development agenda that will follow 2015.”
The Raise Your Hand petition was created to coincide with Plan’s girls’ education campaign, Because I am a Girl, and it has played a key role in ensuring the topic is placed on the post-2015 agenda. Along with Malala, Plan global ambassador and actress Freida Pinto as well as UN Special Envoy for Education, Gordon Brown, plus a host of others have signed the petition.
Global momentum
Since the campaign was launched in 2012, and in the wake of the schoolgirl kidnappings in Nigeria, the world has seen leaders such as Hillary Clinton and, most recently, US First Lady Michelle Obama speak out on the importance of girls’ education.
At the recent United Nations general assembly in New York, Michelle Obama said: “If we truly believe that every girl in every corner of the globe is worthy of an education as our own daughters and granddaughters are, then we need to deepen our commitment to these efforts.”
Plan International CEO, Nigel Chapman, said:
“If we can help girls and women gain an education and find financial independence, these are game-changing opportunities which can lift families and children out of poverty for generations. Educated girls will make a success of their families, communities and wider society – their potential is tremendous.
“By tackling inequality at its heart and by challenging ingrained attitudes of sexism and discrimination, we can change the future of millions. But we have to work even harder to do it, spurred on by the support of so many who know such attitudes cannot be tolerated in a world which respects women and girls and wants to maximise the enriching contributions they make to all our lives.”
65 million girls out of school
Globally, it is estimated that 65 million* girls are out of school, with 1 in 5* adolescent girls around the world denied an education by the daily realities of poverty, discrimination and violence. Disasters and emergencies can exacerbate these existing rights violations.
Yet, supporting girls’ education is one of the single best investments the government can make to help end poverty and give hope to girls who are otherwise denied their rights and aspirations.
More than 2.3 million people raised their hands to support the goal via a petition and posting pictures on Facebook and Twitter, using the hashtag #bcimagirl.
Plan has also launched an innovative new girls’ rights video made with YouTube trenders to mark this year’s Day of the Girl. To watch #itsaGirlThing, visit http://youtu.be/gqS6CIDvP2g.
Plan will also be pinkifying monuments around the world for the third year running celebrating International Day of the Girl on 11 October. Monuments including the Empire State Building will glow pink from 10 October when Julianne Hough will light up the building in support of girls’ education.
