Now is the time to stand with girls

Plan International urges increased investment for a better future for girls as global funding cuts threaten to set back decades of progress

Toronto, ON, February 26, 2025 – Together with our peers in the humanitarian and international development sectors, global children’s rights organization Plan International has been analyzing the impact of changes to U.S. foreign assistance announced in recent weeks, and the consequences for children around the world, especially girls.

The current freeze on payments for U.S. government funded aid projects comes as, globally, many other countries are cutting back foreign aid spending – spending that is used to keep children in school, provide clean water and health care, protect children from violence and help communities recover from natural disasters. Governments are by far the largest funders of sustainable development and humanitarian assistance, and collectively, cuts to Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) around the world mean there is $12 billion USD ($17 billion CAD) less per year available to support families and communities around the world.

Plan International is warning that the loss of funding to keep girls in school and ensure they have access to adequate healthcare will be devastating, placing hard-won progress towards achieving a better future for girls at profound risk.

In recent years, girls, women and their allies around the world have made incredible gains. These include more than two-thirds of all countries reaching equal enrolment rates for boys and girls in primary school, births to adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 have fallen by one third since 2000, and child marriage rates have declined from 23% to 19% between 2012 and 2022.

At the same time, we are also witnessing highly concerning setbacks to girls’ and women’s rights in several areas – from bans on comprehensive sexuality education to the restriction of access to safe abortion and anti LGBTQIA+ laws.

Any cuts to funding will make our work supporting children’s rights and equality for girls even harder, with consequences for communities around the world.

“Girls are the largest excluded group in the world. Every day, they face discrimination and abuse simply for being young and female,” said Kathleen Sherwin, Chief Strategy and Engagement Officer for Plan International.

“At current rates of progress, it will take 134 years to achieve gender equality. Working with girls, women and their allies, we can and have made so many advances in recent years — improving girls’ chances of going to school, living free from violence and reducing their risk of marrying while they are children.

“But this progress is fragile, uneven, and constantly under threat. Programs that have been paused or terminated over the past month included lifesaving humanitarian assistance and critical work to advance children’s rights, especially for girls. The threats and the risks that girls face every day – whether it is violence, hunger or poverty – have not paused.

“Plan International, with a presence in over 80 countries and a record of delivering change for children from birth into adulthood, remains steadfast in our commitment to achieve a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We are here to support girls, and this will not change.”

Plan International has worked long and hard with girls and their communities to identify program and policy solutions needed to create lasting change. We have proven, scalable programs that are ready to be implemented wherever they are needed.

“At a time when girls’ rights are increasingly under threat, we need more investment,” said Sherwin. “Our work must continue, and we are resolute that we will continue to stand with girls.”

Canadians who are concerned by the rising threat to girls education, health, and safety, and want to protect the hard-won progress made towards children’s rights and girls’ equality, can learn more and donate today at PlanCanada.ca/Equal.

About Plan International Canada

Plan International Canada is a member of a global organization dedicated to advancing children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan International has been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years and is now active in more than 80 countries.

We stand with children, especially girls, wherever they are oppressed, exploited, left behind or not equally valued. We’re determined optimists and will continue to persevere until we are all equal.

Visit plancanada.ca for more information.

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Plan International Canada
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