EU must help change the world for girls

On the International Day of the Girl Child and the start of the European Week of Action for Girls, eight organizations note in this op-ed that millions of girls around the world are still being denied the opportunity to reach their full potential. How can the SDGs help create a world that is safer and more equal?

By Devex Editor // 12 October 2015

EDITOR’S NOTE: This commentary is authored by the following: Tanya Cox, acting head, Plan International EU Office; Neil Datta, secretary, European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development; Vicky Claeys, regional director, International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network; Ester Asin, director and EU representative, Save the Children; Cecile Vernant, head of EU advocacy, DSW; Sanjayan Srikanthan, director of policy and practice, International Rescue Committee U.K.; Deirdre de Burca, director of advocacy, World Vision Brussels and EU Representation; and Céline Mias, EU representative, CARE International.

This year has been intense, exciting and historic. It represents the culmination of years of negotiations over the framework that will guide the international community’s work over the next 15 years. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by 193 states last month, represents the most ambitious effort yet to reduce poverty, tackle inequality and injustice, and protect the planet.

The European Union must live up to its commitments under Agenda 2030, and do everything in its power to ensure girls and women benefit equally from the Sustainable Development Goals and participate equally in their implementation and monitoring.