How can we ensure that all children live free from the threat of violence and harmful practices, and are able to fulfil their potential in a world that is peaceful? Answer: Education for All. That’s why the UK Government’s support for the Global Partnership for Education is so important, and why your action matters.

THE ISSUE

Violence is a barrier to education for millions of girls and boys across the world, especially those living in conflict-affected countries. Harmful practices such as forced marriage and female genital mutilation rob girls of their childhoods, their most fundamental human rights, and prevent them from staying in school and fulfilling their potential.

VIOLENCE IS A BARRIER TO EDUCATION

Worldwide, an estimated 150 million girls and 73 million boys have experienced sexual violence. Nearly half of all sexual assaults are committed against girls younger than 16 years of age.

Half of the 57 million children out of school primary school around the world live in conflict affected countries. Girls are the worst affected, as they are often victims of rape and other sexual violence that accompanies armed conflicts.

Child marriage has a direct impact on girls accessing secondary education, and it is a global problem. Every year, an estimated 14 million girls aged under 18 are forced to marry worldwide. In the developing world, one in seven girls is married before her 15th birthday and some child brides are as young as eight.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) also affects girls’ access to education. More than 125 million girls and women alive today have been cut in the 29 countries in Africa and Middle East where FGM is concentrated.

EDUCATION IS THE SOLUTION

A rights-based approach to education can promote understanding, tolerance, and help to build peaceful societies. Educated women are less likely to experience violence than those with lower levels of education.

Education in safe and inspiring learning environments is one of the best ways to empower girls and reduce harmful practises like child marriage and female genital mutilation. An educated girl will understand her rights; have the confidence to claim them and to make her own choices about her future.

An educated girl is more likely to marry later, to have her first child when she is not a child herself and to help break the cycle of poverty.  

HOW INVESTING IN THE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR EDUCATION WILL HELP

The GPE focuses on building education systems for children in conflict affected states. Re-establishing education systems in fragile states can provide children and their communities with the help they need to return to normal after a conflict.

The Global Partnership also works to get more girls to complete a quality primary and lower secondary education. This helps girls to understand and realise their rights and to challenge harmful practices like child marriage and FGM.

TAKE ACTION

Over the next four years the Global Partnership for Education will help 23 million of the hardest to reach children in conflict affected and fragile states to get an education. The UK’s support for the Global Partnership for Education will ensure girls and boys, especially those living in conflict affected countries, have the right to learn and the chance to live free from the threat of violence. Take action today to tell the UK government why this is so important!