2020 marks 25 years since the Beijing Platform for Action and it’s a 10 year count-down to the 2030 Agenda.

Over the past years, we have increased our efforts to address gender inequality and its impact on women and girls.

In UNICEF’s Europe and Central Asia region, where every 1 in 7 person is a girl, many are still denied the opportunities to participate and progress. We are still far from gender equality- we still have 1 in 4 girls and women subjected to violence at home, in school, online and in public spaces, 1 in 6 adolescent girls are not in education employment or training, 1 in 10 girls still marry before they reach 18, over 2 million girls are out of school. Their aspirations and potential are undervalued and unrecognized.

COVID-19 has increased their inequalities and barriers. a doubling of efforts is required to ensure that none of them are left behind as we build back better.

We need to support and value girls to have a world that is free of violence, with no more discrimination, stereotypes and prejudices, equitable access to quality health and education services.

We need to ensure equal investments for girls at all levels and break the cycle of inequality.