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Creating a just & inclusive future for every child
Plan International believes every child deserves equal access to fundamental human rights like education, health care, healthy food, clean water and a safe environment where they can thrive.
Recognizing the rights, value and dignity of every person
At its heart, equality is simple: Every person deserves to be valued and respected. No matter someone’s age, race, nationality, gender, beliefs, abilities or income level, they should be treated fairly and be afforded the same value in society.
Progress made, but challenges remain
Despite progress on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we still have work to do. Ongoing challenges like cuts to global aid, conflicts, climate-related disasters, health emergencies and economic hardships continue to affect children worldwide – with girls bearing the heaviest burden.
Working alongside girls and communities for lasting change
Our global strategy, All Girls Standing Strong (2022–2027), tackles the unique barriers girls face worldwide, while we continue to partner with communities to create environments where all children have a fair chance at life.
What does “equality for all” really mean?
Not everyone starts with the same opportunities.
Every person’s starting point in life is different. Some have more resources and opportunities than others. Creating equal opportunities means recognizing these different starting points, and ongoing challenges, and removing the roadblocks that keep some people – particularly those who face discrimination and tough circumstances – from being able to meet their basic needs or build the life they envision.
Why equality starts with girls
Equality for girls is crucial to achieving a just world.
As much as we want all children to be healthy, educated and protected, millions of children around the world are denied those basic human rights – especially girls.
Around the world, girls:
- Are less likely to go to school, find good jobs and have enough to eat, especially when supplies are scarce.
- Are more likely to live in poverty and do most of the child care and household work.
- Often face greater dangers in emergencies, like risk of exploitation, and are subjected to violence and forms of abuse such as early and forced marriage or female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C).
- Experience heightened health risks from menstruation or pregnancy and childbirth complications.
This is why we prioritize girls: Until they can access the same rights as everyone else, true equality isn’t possible for anyone.
Focusing on girls doesn’t mean excluding boys.
We actively engage men and boys as partners in our efforts to advance equality. True progress requires boys and men to see themselves as allies, supporting girls and young women as they assert their rights and forge their own paths.
The stats: The challenges girls face
Every year, 12 million girls are forced to marry, causing them to drop out of school and face higher risks of violence and unplanned, early, high-risk pregnancies. (UNICEF)
Complications from early pregnancy and childbirth and lack of safe health services are the leading cause of death for girls ages 15 to 19. (WHO)
How investing in girls builds a better world
Discrimination often excludes girls and women from society. This sidelines half the world’s talent, ideas and potential – and blocks proven pathways to lasting progress for communities and entire countries.
When girls get equal chances, entire communities benefit:
- More education has directly contributed to a 40% global reduction in extreme poverty since 1980. (UNESCO)
- If all girls finished high school, child marriage would plummet by nearly two thirds globally. (UNESCO)
- Each additional year of school increases a girl’s future earnings by 10 – 20%. (World Bank, UNESCO)
- Research shows that if all girls completed secondary school, it could add up to $30 trillion to the global economy. (World Bank)
- Closing the gender gap in countries’ labour markets would increase global GDP by 23% on average. (UNESCO)
- Research suggests that ensuring women have crucial health care could unlock $400 billion in global GDP, annually, by 2040 (New World Economic Forum); when women and children are healthy, communities, workforces and economies are stronger for it.
How does Plan International help advance equality for all?
To achieve lasting, meaningful change, we must do more than remove barriers and open opportunities for girls and women. We also need to shift the environments and norms that limit and harm girls, women – and everyone. True equality benefits everyone, and it isn’t achievable without boys and men, who are key allies involved in all our work.
We work with communities to confront, challenge and overcome discrimination, oppression and human-rights violations, especially those that most affect girls. Achieving the SDG target of “leaving no one behind” requires transformation at multiple levels.
With young people:
- Creating safe spaces where youth can learn from one another and have access to information they need to make informed decisions about their lives
- Teaching life skills such as public speaking to build confidence and leadership skills (here’s an example)
- Ensuring youth are included in community decisions
With families and communities:
- Encouraging conversations about long-standing harmful cultural norms about the roles of women/men and girls/boys at home, at school, in relationships and in the workplace
- Showing how reducing violence and treating women and girls with respect creates stronger, healthier communities
- Involving fathers, brothers and male community members in creating positive change (here’s an example)
- Working with local women’s and girl/youth-led groups to develop solutions that fit their needs
With decision makers:
- Working with leaders, religious leaders and service providers, such as health workers and teachers, on how to address children’s unique needs (here’s an example)
- Supporting policies that protect children’s futures
- Getting better information (data) to understand young people’s experience and needs
- Ensuring that girls and women participate in the decisions that affect their lives
How we measure success
Shifting deeply entrenched social norms, attitudes and behaviours – especially those that negatively affect girls – is complex work: It’s about shifting hearts and minds.
We track our progress through regular community conversations, surveys and careful monitoring of how attitudes and behaviours change over time. This helps us understand what’s working and where we need to adjust our approach.
We developed a comprehensive monitoring, evaluation, research and learning index customized for women and girls.
» See our publications on Equality for All.
Our goal isn’t just temporary change but lasting transformation that endures long after our programs end.
Stop the rollback to girls’ rights
It has never been more dangerous to be a girl in the world. Climate-related disasters and hunger are on the rise, while nearly one in six girls and women lives in a conflict zone. Their rights and lives are on the line.
Now is the time to stand with girls. Together, we must strengthen the investments we’ve made to help improve children’s lives and protect hard-won progress toward girls’ equality.
Help create a more equal world
Interested in supporting the cause? Join Plan International in our work to support children – especially girls – facing today’s greatest challenges. Until every girl can go to school, be safe and survive… together, we won’t stop, until we are all equal. Check out these ways you can begin championing children’s rights and equality for girls.
Help us meet girls’ greatest needs:
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