The G7 leaders have pledged support to new gender equality initiatives in education as announced on August 28th 2019 by Global Partnership for Education.

This is great news in the light of many other events happening at the G7 talks in 2019.

The lives of so many girls will be enhanced by the ability to access education. There are many known facts about the importance of education for everyone and that includes girls! Lives will be positive and girls can look on their lives ahead with hope and a future.

In many countries, girls do not have access to education in the same way as boys, sometimes this is through government decision, a faith-based decision and sometimes it is because countries do not have the resources to provide education for all.

How amazing it is, living in a developed country that this should still be the case in 2019.

The Global Partnership for Education has been pursuing this anomaly for many years and it is through their work and other organisations that this has been brought before the G7 Summit.

‘The G7 leaders have recognised the urgency of ensuring that all girls and boys around the world are able to claim their right to a quality education and called for transformational efforts to meet that goal as the route to a more gender-equal world.’  Global Partnership for Education Announcement 28.8.19

In the Declaration, G7 leaders state: “We are convinced that equal access to quality education is vital to achieve the empowerment and equal opportunity of girls and women, especially in developing contexts and countries struggling with conflict. Thus, we welcome approaches to address the barriers girls face and to achieve gender equality and, in particular, the Gender at the Center Initiative.

The Declaration on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment issued at the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Biarritz, France, gives new momentum to ensure education for all children, and provides powerful support for the Gender at the Center Initiative.”

Great news and at SmithMartin Partnership LLP we look forward to hearing more and  being part of the work ahead to engage with education for all.

Sue Martin FRSA

See our Partnership here