The role of gender equality and girls’ education in times of COVID-19

During its peak, school closures due to COVID-19 put nearly 1.6 billion children out of school, including 767 million girls. From gender-based violence to forced marriage and early pregnancy, girls face heightened challenges when schools are closed, and more than 20 million girls may never return to the classroom. The pandemic risks wasting untold human potential and could undermine decades of progress.

To ensure that every child has access to 12 years of public education, all stakeholders need to come together to keep education a top priority and strengthen education systems so that the most vulnerable children are not left behind.

This webinar will bring together youth advocates and high-level political leaders to discuss gender equality and girls’ education as a crucial aspect of the COVID-19 response and recovery, and to shine a spotlight on education investments for intergenerational and innovative approaches to keep girls learning.