Why girls?
Plan, drawing on more than 70 years' experience of international development in over 60 countries, recognises that discrimination against girls and women is one of the main underlying causes of child poverty.
Girls and boys have the same entitlements to human rights, but they face different challenges in accessing them. Girls are more likely to be pulled out of school, have less access to medical care, and are often fed less. They experience more violence and sexual harassment just because they are girls and are expected to work hard on domestic chores which make it more difficult for them to study.
Breaking the poverty cycle
This lack of opportunity and care is unfair and unjust. Yet we know that investing in girls and young women has a disproportionately beneficial effect in alleviating poverty for everyone; not only the girls themselves but their families, communities and entire countries. Everyone benefits, including boys and men.
That argument chimes with the issues of justice and equality of opportunity, and is another reason why Plan is making its 'Because I am a Girl' campaign one of its flagship priorities in the years ahead.
Failing to educate girls costs billions
Read Plan's 'Paying the price' report, which shows how failing to educate girls costs developing countries almost US$100 billion each year in lost economic growth.