Left Out Left Behind report briefing

Our new report shines a light on the harsh realities for the 13 million girls who are unable to attend school as a direct result of conflict, natural disasters and climate crises.

In 2015, when world leaders launched the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), they committed to ensuring that all children and young people can access education. The world is falling short of that goal, and girls in crises are the furthest behind. At current rates of progress, by the 2030 SDG deadline, 1 in 5 in crisis-affected countries will still not be able to read a simple sentence.

When conflict or disaster strikes, everyone caught up has their lives torn apart. But adolescent girls’ age and gender means they are particularly adversely affected. They are at high risk of sexual and physical violence at school, face a burden of household chores and are often not able to continue with their education if they are married or pregnant. All these risks increase during times of crisis and conflict.

Plan International UK is calling on world leaders and the UK Government to show bold political leadership and commit resources to secondary education for adolescent girls in emergencies so that no girl is left out or left behind.