Unbearable is the reality that millions of girls in Africa, Asia, and even in Europe live. Simply because they were born girls, they are unjustly deprived of education and subjected to all kinds of discrimination and violence. At the end of this year, Action Education launches a mobilization campaign so that everyone can support its mission for girls.
The alarming situation of girls' education in the world
Worldwide, more than 129 million girls are deprived ofeducation. This number has exploded with the Covid-19 pandemic and the persistence of many cultural and social traditions such as the exclusion of girls during their menstruation or the overload of household and domestic tasks they are forced to perform every day.
Despite decades of advocacy, 12 million girls under the age of 18 are married each year, nearly 1 girl every 2 seconds.. According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, 21 million girls aged 15 to 19 become pregnant each year in developing regions. It is urgent to act now to avoid these girls a life of submission, silence and poverty.
"My older brother told me that this year I would not go to school because I would have to join my husband, willingly or not. I ran away to my aunt's house and I never returned to the village. Thanks to Action Education, I am continuing my studies. I want to be a teacher. Tombong, 13 years old, Senegal
Mobilizing for the education of all girls
Guarantee girls their human rights, including the right to a decent life. education quality, will enable them to acquire skills, gain confidence, defend their rights and become full players in tomorrow's society. Access to quality education is therefore today the only weapon that can reduce ignorance and guarantee girls and women, as well as all vulnerable populations, the enjoyment of their fundamental rights.
Based on this conviction, Action Education accompanies girls and women towards the knowledge and defense of their rights. Some examples of our actions:
- We break the taboos associated with menstruation by educating girls, providing them with sanitary protection and raising awareness among parents and educators. We build girls-only toilets in schools to ensure their dignity, privacy and safety.
- We accompany parents to better paying jobs so that girls are not pulled out of school because of poverty.
Act today and now by mobilizing with us for theeducation girls and adolescent girls around the world.