Help put girls’ rights on the political agenda

It’s under a month until the general election and we know some ways that you can make a difference. Help transform lives across the world by keeping girls’ rights on the agenda.

Christiana stands up fights for girls’ rights in Sierra Leone.

British aid has helped over ten million children, mostly girls, go to school in the past two years. This is a great achievement and shows what we can do through aid, but the task is far from over. There are still 62 million girls who are unable to access the basic right to education.

Keep girls’ rights on the agenda

Girls have a right to live free from violence, to go to school and to have a voice in decisions that affect them. Accessing these rights gives girls the chance to achieve their potential, and we also know it helps tackle poverty.

“Without the support of British aid, Plan’s work for girls would not be possible. Therefore it’s really important that you engage with political parties about what they are going to do to ensure girls’ rights are on the agenda,” says Daniel, 15, a member of Plan’s Youth Advisory Panel.

Christiana’s story

Christiana in Sierra Leone was forced to drop out of school because her family could not afford to pay for materials. She was selling food at the local market when a man older than her father approached her for marriage. She was coerced by her family to accept, and forced to undergo FGM before marrying. She escaped the marriage after five months and eventually managed to go back to school. She is now supported by Plan’s Girl Power Project and was selected by her peers to be their president because of her goal to be an advocate for girls’ education and to speak out against early marriage, teenage pregnancy and FGM.

Girls’ rights must be part of the UK international development agenda. Here’s how you can help make sure they are.

Help us spread the message to the next UK Parliament on social media

Share this image with all your followers on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and any other network you are a part of. Let them know what you want. Or tweet your MP directly. You can find your local MP’s Twitter handle using the Tweet Minister website. You may also want to print the image and keep it by the front door, for when candidates come around.

Write to your local newspaper

Use Plan’s letter template to write to your local newspaper. Contact details can usually be found on their websites – the easiest way is to search for them online. Be sure to include your own name and place, as letters will not be published without that info.

Support Because I am a Girl

Plan's Because I am a Girl campaign is the biggest girls' rights campaign in the world. The campaign tackles violence including abuse, FGM and child marriage by raising awareness and providing education.