Act for girls
Because I am a Girl
Stand with brave girls everywhere as they campaign for equal rights
At Plan International UK, we believe girls shouldn't be discriminated against just for being girls. Our Because I am a Girl campaign focuses on giving girls an equal opportunity to boys, and our campaigns tackle the real issues girls and young women face every day around the world.
With your amazing support, brave girls across the globe have led campaigns and changed their futures, taking on issues from the trafficking of girls in Nepal to child marriage in Tanzania, accessing sexual health services in Uganda and living safely in the world’s cities. But we’re still a long way from achieving gender equality.
That’s why we’re taking action on street harassment and highlighting girls' experiences of periods in the UK, in our first-of-its-kind report, Break the Barriers. And it’s why we asked you to stand with youth advocates Faridah, Fiona and Rowlings, to stop the exploitation of girls at work in Uganda.
International Day of the Girl
Around the world, including here in the UK, girls are experiencing huge pressure around their appearance – and it’s holding them back from going to school, getting their voices heard and achieving their dreams.
No girl should miss out because society says she should look a certain way. That’s why, on International Day of the Girl 2019, we asked you to #ListenToGirls about body image.
Left Out, Left Behind
If you’re a girl affected by conflict or disaster, you’re more likely to be married before the age of 18 than to finish school. But in places like South Sudan, Nigeria and the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazaar, girls are telling us they want an education more than anything.
Will you stand up for every girl’s right to an education?
STREET HARASSMENT
Across the UK, girls are being harassed in public places – and told it's just part of growing up.
Our latest survey shows that 38% of girls are experiencing verbal harassment like catcalling, wolf whistling and sexual comments every month, while 15% are being touched, groped or grabbed – and they've told us they want it to stop.
That's why we're asking you to say 'It's not OK', as we call on the government to recognise harassment in public as a form of gender-based violence.
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.
Our work in the UK
Break the Barriers
When you start your period it’s all hush, hush. You can’t talk about it. It should be seen as a natural human thing.
- Sugi, 20, Middlesbrough
Our first-of-its-kind report reveals girls' experiences of periods in the UK, and how a culture of stigma and silence is putting girls' physical, sexual and mental health at risk.
Let’s Talk. Period
In the UK, period stigma, combined with the high cost of period products and a lack of education, has led to a ‘toxic trio’ of period poverty, and it’s impacting girls’ lives – as our 2018 report, Break the Barriers, revealed.
Now we’re delivering Let’s Talk. Period, a new project committed to ending period poverty in England, which we’ll be delivering with young people’s sexual health and wellbeing charity, Brook, funded by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
Champions of Wales
Run in partnership by Plan International UK and five local organisations, Champions of Wales is a girls’ rights movement, working to change perceptions and attitudes towards girls so they can live free from gender inequality.
Over three years, the programme will support at least two hundred young people, enabling them to build skills, confidence and an understanding of girls’ rights.
Campaigns
Stand with every brave girl to end violence
Join our Because I am a Girl campaign to stand with every brave girl and take action for girls' rights
International Day of the Girl 2019
Girls are missing out on achieving their dreams because they’re being held back by worries about their body image.
Left Out, Left Behind
Growing up in crisis is putting girls’ education and their futures in jeopardy.
Street harassment: It's not OK
Every day, girls across the UK are being harassed in public places – and told it’s just part of growing up.
Locked out
It’s time to stop locking girls out of school toilets when they have their period.
Our period emoji is on the way!
Thanks to your amazing support, our period emoji is on its way to keyboards everywhere.
Not part of her job
Stop the sexual exploitation of girls at work in Uganda
Stand with brave girls to stop trafficking in Nepal
Trafficking is a horrendous abuse of girls’ rights. It has to stop. Stand with young campaigners today and sign their petition to end trafficking in Nepal.
My Body. My Future.
Stand with girls in Uganda to give girls better access to sexual health services
Relationships and Sex Education: It's my right
Young people are calling for mandatory sex and relationships education, stand with them
Make cities safer for girls
Around the world, girls aren't feeling safe in the cities they're growing up in.
Ending child marriage in Malawi
In Malawi young people are on the verge of ending child marriage
Learn without fear
246 million children are affected by violence at school. Let's end this
Because I Am A Girl
We campaign globally to end violence and discrimination against girls.
Girls' Rights in the UK
We’re shining the spotlight on the situation for girls in the UK.