Girls rights in the UK
For the first time, we’re shining the spotlight on the situation for girls in the UK. Our report, The State of Girls’ Rights, shows that being young and female in this country comes with specific challenges, from stereotyping to sexual harassment at school, pressures around body image and the struggle to stay safe online.
It also highlights the fact that a girl’s quality of life is tied to where she lives. Our first-of-its-kind analysis, ranked by local authority, highlights the best and worst places to be a girl in England and Wales and asks why – despite living in the fifth richest country in the world – girls in the UK are still being denied their rights.
Today, these everyday barriers are having a profound impact on girls’ lives and their ability to participate and express themselves freely. That’s why were’ calling on the UK Government to tackle the root causes of gender equality and to end violence against girls. Download your copy of the report or read the executive summary.
UK girls: Our voices
Today, girls are facing harassment in schools. They don’t feel safe online. They’re judged by the way their body looks. And they’re scared every day on the street.
We speak to girls from different backgrounds and regions of the UK. Here, they tell us, in their own words, what it means to be a girl growing up in the UK.
"I feel there is always this pressure to create an image and a desirable life. I don’t want to be part of that – I feel it takes away so much [that is] genuine in life.” - Areena
RELATIONSHIPS AND SEX EDUCATION
You stood with young people across the country, as they called for mandatory Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) in UK schools – and it worked! The UK Government pledged to introduce statutory RSE across all secondary schools, and statutory relationships education across all primary schools in England.
The Government consultation on the new curriculum has now closed and we'll be keeping a close eye on what happens next, to make sure it includes the issues young people told us matter most to them, from sexting and consent to preventing abusive relationships.
RECLAIMING THE INTERNET FOR GIRLS
Girls have the right to be online and express their views safely. But what should be an empowering space can quickly become threatening. Not only are girls facing immense pressure in the digital world, they’re also more at risk of harassment, abuse and being pressured into sending explicit images than their male counterparts.
As a result, girls are censoring what they say and in some cases withdrawing from the digital space altogether – losing their voice online. That’s why we’re calling for change at an international level, to recognise girls’ digital experiences and their right to be online.
Reports
Girls’ rights in the digital world
The future is digital and girls must be in it, but harassment online and a lack of rights is driving them away. Download our ‘You can’t live without it’ report.
Break the Barriers: Girls' Experiences of Periods in the UK
How a culture of stigma and silence have turned periods into a hidden public health issue.