The Global Research documentary delves into the compelling findings of Save the Children’s Global Girlhood Report 2020, revealing the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on progress toward gender equality and the well-being of girls worldwide. Through this thought-provoking documentary, viewers gain insights into the unique challenges faced by girls during the pandemic, including disrupted education, increased child marriage, and heightened gender-based violence. The documentary highlights the urgent need for action, advocacy, and support to protect the rights and futures of girls globally. Witness the voices of girls and experts as they shed light on the perilous situation and call for collective efforts to ensure a brighter and more equitable future for all.
While girls’ health, nutrition, and access to education have improved over the last 25 years, even before the pandemic hit, progress to end child marriage and reduce adolescent pregnancy had slowed to a halt. COVID-19 has brought suffering to people everywhere, but its impact is not shared equally.
With reports of gender-based violence increasing across the world (UN policy brief), it is estimated that 9.7 million children may never return to school post‑COVID. And with the number of children living in poverty estimated to climb by around 100 million (UNICEF, Save the Children), for girls today, gender equality feels further from reach than ever.
A dramatic surge in child marriage and adolescent pregnancy is anticipated, with up to an additional 2.5 million girls at risk of child marriage over five years and adolescent pregnancies expected to rise by up to 1 million in 2020, as a result of the economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.
The greatest number of child marriages is expected in South Asia and the highest number of girls affected by the increased risk of adolescent pregnancy are likely to be in East and Southern Africa.
The impact of COVID-19 on girls’ futures and dreams of achieving gender equality within their lifetimes depends on how the world chooses to act now. Decisions about how to respond to the pandemic will have lasting consequences.