On Tuesday, September 25, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) urged world leaders for greater international coordination to promote education of the girl child and “leave no girl behind.”

On the sidelines of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly that commenced recently in New York, UNESCO director-general Audrey Azoulay along with French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, British prime minister Theresa May and Norwegian prime minister Erna Solberg reaffirmed their political and financial commitment to undertake individual and collective action to break the barriers to girls’ education by 2030.

“Girls’ education is the most powerful driver for global transformation. It is also a fundamental right and a matter of human dignity,” said Azoulay.

“UNESCO can serve as a coordinating hub. We must work in synergy and on a sustained basis over time if we are to collectively deliver on our ambition,” she added.

Featuring three panel discussions, the event underscored the urgent need for countries to work together for the 132 million girls across the globe who are not in school today. The discussions highlighted the need to do more for education of girls in conflict zones and crisis affected countries; stressed the correlation between education for girls and health, the vital role of education to counter sexual and gender-based violence, child and forced marriage and early or unintended pregnancy. The last panel deliberated on the ways and means to realise the collective goal of providing 12 years of free quality education to all girls and boys by 2030 and the need for legislation at the national level to guarantee the right to education.