Policy, Research and Influencing

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Policy, Research and Influencing

Our work aims to change governments' policies to support children and young people, particularly girls living in the poorest countries. We partner with policy makers, parliamentarians, youth advocates, the media and civil society networks.

We use the evidence and learning from our research and programmes to influence governments and help children and young people raise their voices to ensure policy makers listen to them.

Our policy and advocacy team work on a number of key issues including gender and violence, education, humanitarian response, citizenship and participation, youth economic empowerment, and health. Find out more about the work we do in our latest reports, blogs and research.

Our work

466 young people from 76 countries had their voices heard in the Girls’ Education forum consultation in 2016

6,981 girls and boysengaged in decision making process at school, local or national level

25 young people meaningfully engaged directly with world leaders in 2015 and 2016 as part of our government task team programme

Girls in crisis

Around the world, 500 million adolescent girls are living in countries affected by conflict and humanitarian crises.

In these environments, navigating the challenges of growing up as a girl – from increased domestic work to the risk of gender-based violence, child marriage and pregnancy and childbirth – becomes immensely more challenging.

That's why we're working to support young girls and women growing up during times of crisis.

A girl from our Real Choices Real Lives study

Real Choices, Real Lives research study

Our unique Real Choices, Real Lives research study follows 142 girls across nine countries - Vietnam, Benin, El Salvador, Brazil, Cambodia, Togo, Uganda, Dominican Republic and the Philippines – from birth to 18. Now reaching adolescence, the girls and their parents describe in their own words what it means to be a girl in their family and community, and how age, poverty and gender impact on their lives.

THEIR STORY

Youth advocates Hope and Georgina from Kenya

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) took place in London this April, bringing together young people, business leaders and heads of Government from across the Commonwealth.

We were there, along with youth advocates Hope and Georgina from Kenya and Viola and Norah from Uganda, as they asked their Governments to commit to leading the fight to end the exploitation of girls.

Policy, Research and Influencing