The INFO Project Blog

A new report from ICRW, the Center for Global Development, and the Population Council shows why investing in girls can be a boon for social and economic development. Asking,

Why should we pay more attention to girls? What difference can adolescent girls make in achieving positive development outcomes? How can stakeholders initiate effective investments that will give girls in developing countries a full and equal chance for rewarding lives and livelihoods?

The report addresses systematic disadvantes faced by girls over a wide range of welfare indicators, including health, education, nutrition, labor force participation, and burden of household tasks.Girls Count also highlights the disproportionate impact of violence against young women. According to the report, nearly half of sexual assaults worldwide are perpetuated against girls aged 15 or younger. This demographic also bears a very high burden of HIV.

Around 59 percent of HIV-positive adults in sub-Saharan Africa… are women, and 75 percent of injected youth are girls ages 15-24. 

Child marriage and FGM are harmful traditional practices the report addresses.

The report urges action on the part of governments in developing countries, donor organizations, private employers, and civil society to tackle these issues.