As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we are reminded that the goal of providing equal educational opportunities for every girl and every boy around the world has not yet been achieved.

Only in a truly equal world can we harness everyone’s potential, leading to a society that is more secure, tolerant, prosperous, adaptable to rapid technological advancements, and better equipped to face climate change or future pandemics.

We know that despite parity in enrollment, in some regions of the world girls may still face challenges accessing education, especially when they come from low-income households, live in remote areas, or have refugee status.

Girls also encounter distinct challenges in certain contexts which impact their education, such as attitudes perpetuating harmful practices like child marriage.

Equal access to quality and safe schooling is critical for every single girl and boy and for our collective future.