Canadians Call for Action at G7 Summit

A young girl writes Dari letters on a black board in a mosque that serves as a community-based school, in Kamar Kalagh, a village on the outskirts of the north-western city of Herat, Afghanistan. © UNICEF/UNI118304/Noorani (CNW Group/Plan International Canada)

Plan International Canada (CNW Group/Plan International Canada)

Save the Children (CNW Group/Plan International Canada)

UNICEF (CNW Group/Plan International Canada)

World Vision (CNW Group/Plan International Canada)

Leading development and humanitarian agencies ask global leaders to "save lives by prioritizing education for girls in crises"

TORONTO, April 23, 2018 /CNW/ - As momentum builds toward the G7 Summit in June, a coalition of leading Canadian development and humanitarian agencies is amplifying the voices of concerned Canadians who want G7 leaders to take action on the most neglected, yet critical, issue in the world today: the education of girls in crises and conflict.

With millions of children around the world caught in conflict and disaster, education is a lifeline, especially for girls, according to Plan International Canada, Save the Children, UNICEF Canada and World Vision. Access to education protects them from violence today, while giving them a chance to pursue a better life tomorrow. Education saves lives.

Prime Minister Trudeau has committed to advancing gender equality and empowering women and girls. The G7 is an unprecedented opportunity for Canada to lead that fight on a global stage. Canadians can join the movement by asking leaders for a G7 Declaration to Educate and Empower Girls in Crises to change the course for millions of out of school girls. Without action now, we could face a lost generation of girls.

HOW CANADIANS CAN GET INVOLVED

1. Speak Up. Tell the Government of Canada you want it to prioritize the education of girls in crises at the G7
2. Take Action. Join Fatuma, a former refugee girl, by signing the petition to give girls in crises and conflicts access to education
3. Get Involved. Spread awareness about the importance of education by taking the Throwback Challenge

QUICK FACTS:

• 75 million children and youth, predominately girls, are out of school in 35 crisis-affected countries.
• Families uprooted by conflict spend on average 26 years as refugees or as internally displaced people.
• Girls are 2.5 times more likely to be out of school than boys during crises.
• Education protects girls from harmful practices: in countries with the highest prevalence of child marriage, girls with secondary schooling are five times less likely to marry as children compared to girls with little or no education.
• Canadians can learn more about the importance of educating girls in crises at www.educateallgirls.ca.

SOURCE Plan International Canada

MEDIA CONTACTS: Leah Siversky, Media and Public Relations Specialist, Plan International Canada, 416 920-1654 ext. 361, [email protected]; Jessica Bryant, Senior Manager Communications, Save the Children Canada, 647-973-1185, [email protected]; Stefanie Carmichael, Communications Manager, UNICEF Canada, [phone] ext. 8866, Cell: [phone], [email protected]; Brett Tarver, Communications Manager, World Vision Canada - 647-825-2712 or [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.plan-international.org/canada