UN Human Rights Council 43: UK statement for Item 3 General Debate on Girls' Education
UK statement for Item 3 General Debate on Girls' Education on 6 March 2020.
The Human Rights Council takes place in Geneva.
Thank you, Madam President.
Promoting 12 years of quality education for all girls is a priority for the United Kingdom. Everyone has a right to education, which is firmly grounded in UN instruments and enables the realisation of many other rights.
Educating girls is the solution to a number of problems: it can break the cycle of poverty, improve health and bring lifelong opportunities, not just for individuals and their families, but for entire countries.
We have already supported nearly 6 million girls in the last 4 years. In 2019, the UK pledged £515 million to help 12 million more children – half of them girls – get into school, with a further £90 million to support education in emergencies and crises.
Since the Leave No Girl Behind campaign launched in 2018, we have worked tirelessly to build international political commitment for girls’ education.
Our Foreign Secretary co-chairs the Platform for Girls’ Education, which recently launched a new report on Political Leadership, showing that sustained political commitment is essential if we are to ensure that the world’s most marginalised girls get 12 years of quality education.
To achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 by 2030, it is imperative girls’ education remains central to the political agenda.
Thank you.