Advancing children’s rights and equality for girls
Plan International Canada is a member of a global organization that’s dedicated to advancing children’s rights and equality for girls. We partner with children, families, supporters, local community-based organizations and governments to develop long-term, sustainable solutions that help unleash human potential.
We help ensure children can access their rights to:
- 1 Education
- 2 Health care
- 3 Safety, protection and participation
- 4 Nutrition and well-being
- 5 Dignity and protection in emergencies
Areas of focus
Education
Did you know that 258 million children are out of school around the world? And during the COVID-19 pandemic, 99% of students in low- and lower-middle-income countries were impacted by school closures.
When children can’t access education, they become vulnerable to disease, violence, exploitation, child marriage and more. Plan International has programs that help children get inclusive quality education. We make an extra effort to reach children who are out of school, living in poverty or displaced by conflict or disaster.
Health care
Health care is a fundamental human right. However, children, and especially girls, are suffering and dying every day from health issues such as malaria, HIV and complications from becoming pregnant too young. Stigmas around these health issues often stop community members from accessing critical health information and care, intensifying these issues.
Together with our partners, we share valuable knowledge to help maintain children’s – especially girls’ – health throughout their lives. Equally important, we provide health education to men so they can actively support the girls and women in their communities.
Safety, protection and participation
Every child has the right to grow up and live free from violence and fear. Yet millions of children around the world are vulnerable to gender-specific physical violence, sexual abuse, exploitation, negligence and emotional abuse.
Plan International advocates for stronger laws to protect children, strengthens government services, helps provide children with essential life skills (like the chance to learn and know their rights) and works with communities to change negative norms that may harm children, especially girls. In all of our work, children participate as equal partners and help inform and influence changes in their communities and in the policies and services that affect their lives.
Nutrition & well-being
Over 70% of people experiencing food insecurity right now are girls and women.
Plan International provides urgent assistance with food supplies and grocery vouchers. We also equip communities with the skills and support to grow sustainable food and to start income-generating businesses that protect them against economic shocks.
Emergency response
Disasters, conflict and other emergencies can have devastating effects on children’s lives. In emergencies, we put children’s needs first, working quickly to reinstate child-protection systems when they are undermined or damaged.
We strengthen communities’ resilience and support children’s right to dignity and protection before, during and after disasters and conflict. Responding to the needs of adolescent girls – who are among the most at-risk when disaster strikes – is a key focus of our work.
Learn more about our work and our impact
From lack of access to education, to protection from harm, to clean water and basic sanitation, millions of children around the world are being held back by a variety of barriers that prevent them from realizing their full potential
How we work
Plan International uses an inclusive approach in our work. This means we recognize and aim to address the needs of all children, especially girls, who are most often denied rights like education, healthy food and protection. This ensures meaningful and lasting change as we advance children’s rights and equality for girls – and helps create a more peaceful and prosperous world for all.
Where we work
Plan International Canada is part of a global community and active in more than 75 countries to create lasting, positive change for children, especially girls, worldwide.
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