Case study: Girls speak out at UN

A delegation of girls from poor rural communities across the world are sharing the harsh reality of their lives at a United Nations meeting in New York.

The 9 Plan-supported teenagers from Cambodia, Cameroon, Malawi, Pakistan and Sierra Leone will tell the Commission on the Status of Women* (CSW), of the daily challenges girls face in their communities – from early and forced marriage to polygamy and domestic violence.

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Echoing Malala's voice: Youth take over Sierra Leone's national parliament

As youth from all over the world today join Malala Yousafzai in taking over the United Nations General Assembly in New York, thousands of miles away, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, a group of 50 young people between the ages of 11 and 18 are setting out to do the same in their national parliament.

24 boys and 26 girls, from communities where Plan works all over Sierra Leone have been inspired by Malala’s call to action on education, giving a voice to the 66 million other girls who, like she once was, are denied an education.

They too want to raise awareness by advocating draft resolutions that directly fall in line with the Millennium Development Goal’s objective to achieve universal primary education.

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Watch the UN youth takeover

Watch a live stream of Malala's speech and the first ever youth takeover of the United Nations.

Find out more about Malala Day and see how you can get involved.

Support girls' education: Raise your hand now.

Source credit: UN Web TV

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Gordon Brown backs Plan's campaign for girls' education

Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is now United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, has backed Plan's campaign for girls' education. Following campaigning by thousands of Plan supporters there have been a series of political commitments and actions announced.

A global campaign was launched after 15-year-old Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban. Plan joined the campaign in support of Malala's stand for girls' education. And our 'Raise your hand' campaign calls for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to lead action by world leaders to make girls' education a priority. The Malala campaign achieved over two million signatures, doubling the original target. Over 560,000 people have supported our Raise your hand campaign so far.

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Why Children’s Day matters

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1989, to help make sure every child in the world was able to develop to their full potential.

The same year that this Convention was adopted, the UN General Assembly suggested that all countries choose a day to promote the rights of its youngest citizens.

It has been nearly 25 years since then, and Universal Children’s Day is still marked annually on November 20. To celebrate the day this year, we’re going to give you five reasons why the Convention on the Rights of the Child is so important.

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Plan welcomes ‘Education First’ initiative

Global child rights organization Plan International has welcomed the UN Secretary General BAN Ki-moon’s'Education First' initiative aimed at ensuring education for all children across the globe.

The initiative was launched at a high-level event at the UN in New York yesterday, attended by several Heads of State, business, civil society leaders and UN officials.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly Nigel Chapman, CEO of Plan International, said: “On behalf of Plan I would like to welcome the launch of Education First. I have seen first-hand the power education has of transforming the lives of children and communities. I have also seen firsthand how many children are still missing out on their chance to a quality education.The initiative, therefore, is a promising start to put education back on track. It unites the UN agencies and programs, governments, business leaders and civil society to join forces for global action.”


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Freida Pinto: Raise your hand now!

Simply click a button at raiseyourhandnow.com before October 11th if like actress Freida Pinto you believe every girl has the right to an education.

October 11th is the first ever UN recognised Day of the Girl and our chance to show the UN that girls must be a priority. But to get the UN to listen we need your support.

Please join us and raise your hand now!

Jeg var nummer 55.803 til at række hånden i vejret for Plan, Because I am a Girl, the Day of the Girl og alle mulige andre, hvilket nummer er du?

En ny chance: Ya Marie

Two years ago, Ya Marie, a teenage girl from Sierra Leone, was forced to leave school because of violence she endured in the classroom. Without an education, Ya Marie had little hope of escaping a life of poverty. But a second chance helped Ya Marie reach her dreams.

She joined Plan’s village savings and loans youth group in her village and developed the confidence and leadership skills needed to speak out in support of girls’ rights and against the violence she faced in school.

Her passion was not ignored. In March, Ya Marie was selected to represent Plan at a UN meeting on women’s rights in New York City.

“This was my first experience outside my country,” sagde hun. “My mom and sister were so proud. It gives me hope to believe in myself and stand up for girls’ rights. i want to become a great woman and advocate for women and girls’ rights."

Today, Ya Marie is back home doing community work with girls who have left school, and plans to go back to school.