Act for girls with Plan International UK

Around the world, including here in the UK, girls still don’t have equal rights – and that has to change. That’s why we’re standing with young people as they campaign on the issues that matter most to them, from child marriage and trafficking to street harassment and sexual exploitation at work.

Our campaigning model is simple and, most importantly, youth-led. We work with young people and youth activists around the world to find out what meaningful change would look like in their communities and how it can be achieved. Then, with your support, we stand with them as they lead campaigns and lobby those in power to create lasting impact.

We’ve seen girls across the globe change their futures in this way. But every day, girls are still being discriminated against just for being girls – and we’re still a long way away from achieving gender equality. That’s why we need you to join our Because I am a Girl campaign and stand with brave girls everywhere in the fight for equal rights. Join us now >

Why we campaign for girls' rights

41,000 girls

under 18 are married around the world every day

13 million girls

are out of school because of conflict and disaster

2 out of 3 girls

in the UK have been sexually harassed in public

Crime not compliment

Our ground-breaking new research confirms the urgent actions needed to end public sexual harassment and to ensure girls are safe in public places. Girls across the UK have spoken out, and this relentless behaviour needs to stop.

We need as many people as possible to join the call to show MPs we must make public sexual harassment a crime. Add your name to join the campaign and stand in solidarity with our call to make our streets safer for everyone.

Join the campaign

Girls' Rights in the UK 2020

In 2016 our research revealed that, despite living in one of the richest countries in the world, girls across the UK were being denied their rights.

Now, at the turn of the decade, our latest report shows the true extent of gender inequality in the UK. It reveals that girls are ‘fed up and frustrated’ with the lack of progress on gender equality, and are continuing to face very real threats to their safety in public, sexism in school and a lack of control over their bodies.

Read their stories

Stand in solidarity with girls in crisis

We must act now to ensure the new Government department listens to girls, especially those living through crisis, and continues to put girls at the heart of its global action.

That’s why, we are asking you to contact your local MP to call on the new Government department to seize this critical moment by setting out an ambitious vision which puts promoting equality for girls at its heart.

Email your MP

Period poverty: the toxic trio

Since launching our Menstrual Manifesto, we’ve been taking on the three issues UK girls identified as creating a ‘toxic trio’ of period poverty: the cost of sanitary products; a lack of education about periods; and shame, stigma and taboo.

Our Locked Out campaign highlighted the issue of girls not being able to go to the toilet during lessons at school, even when they get their period. Meanwhile, your support for our period emoji campaign has secured a new way to smash the period taboo, using one of the world’s fastest growing global languages.

International Day of the Girl 2020

To mark International Day of the Girl 2020, we celebrated the voices of powerful girls around the world as they took a stand on the issues that matter to them.

Now more than ever, with the coronavirus crisis putting girls at even greater risk, we must stand with girls and protect their right to be safe, to an education, and to a future free from discrimination, inequality and abuse. Together, we can change girls’ futures for the better.

Discover more

My story in virtual reality: Mamie's Dream

“Because I was born a girl, I’ve had to face many difficult challenges along the way – from avoiding FGM, to teenage pregnancy, and getting an education.”

In a country where 73% of girls don’t finish their education, Mamie’s dream of becoming a teacher in Sierra Leone seemed impossible – but she was determined to succeed. This is her story.

Watch Mamie's story