Creating true gender equality for females will not happen unless men offer more positive input, says a new study.

This year’s ‘Because I Am A Girl’ report looks at the state of the world’s girls every 12 months, argues that men need to act to create better gender equality.

The report, from children’s rights champion Plan, recommends action that could can improve the lives of girls across the globe.

Calling for change Plan is urging campaigners to:

• Make education challenge stereotypes and acknowledge difference
• Support girls’ and boys’ participation in the creation of policies to improve gender equality
• Make schools safe for girls and boys
• Challenge discrimination

The report highlights stereotypical beliefs about gender that are followed by young people.

Plan International CEO Nigel Chapman said: “It is widely recognised that empowering girls is a key to unlock families from poverty and deprivation. Since we began monitoring the state of the world’s girls back in 2007 we have rightly been asked: ‘So, what about the boys?’

“Of course, many boys are affected by poverty, lack of opportunity and also violence, but girls face double discrimination by being young and by being female. Everyone, including boys, benefits from a more just, equal world but it cannot be attained by girls alone – we must all play a more active part.”

Fernando Henrique Cardoso, the former Brazilian president, said in the report that fathers must let go of their  ‘machismo’ ideas.

“I call on all men and boys to throw their weight behind the campaign for equality and to challenge those who oppose women’s rights and equality,” President Cardoso said.

“The complementary skills and qualities of both men and women are needed to tackle the enormous challenges we face. This will not be easy. But we will all gain from such changes. Societies with greater equality between men and women, girls and boys, are healthier, safer, more prosperous and more truly democratic.”

Download the report from http://plan-international.org/girls/

This article is filed under : Women, Diversity, Legal, Leadership, Minorities, Equality Act 2010, equality strands, Protected charactersitcs, Role models

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