With the current freeze on payments for U.S government-funded aid projects and many other countries also cutting back foreign-aid spending, decades of hard-won progress towards achieving a better future for girls are at risk. Plan International is warning that the loss of funding used to keep children in school, provide clean water and health care, protect children from violence, and help communities recover from crises will have devastating consequences around the world. The threats and risks that girls face every day- whether it is violence, hunger or poverty – have not paused. Our work to support girls must continue.
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.
“At current rates of progress, it will take 134 years to achieve gender equality,” says Kathleen Sherwin, chief strategy and engagement officer for Plan International. “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.
“Plan International remains steadfast in our commitment to achieve a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. 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.
