A global report titled "Girl Goals: What has changed for girls? Adolescent girls’ rights over 30 years," released today by UNICEF, UN Women, and Plan International, has emphasized the urgent need for investment and policy changes to empower adolescent girls in Bangladesh.
The report, launched on International Women’s Day, highlights the persistent challenges faced by girls in Bangladesh, including child marriage, violence, and limited educational and economic opportunities, reads a press release.
The report marks 30 years since the 1995 Beijing Declaration and acknowledges global progress in areas like education and healthcare. However, Bangladesh remains a concern, with over 51% of girls married before the age of 18—the highest rate in Asia and the eighth highest globally. This practice perpetuates poverty, endangers health, and limits the potential of adolescent girls while hampering the country’s economic growth.
Despite robust evidence that investing in girls creates a multiplier effect for communities and countries, adolescent girls in Bangladesh continue to fall behind in critical areas. For example, adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 are twice as likely as their male peers to not be in education, employment, or training. Additionally, 9 out of 10 adolescent girls in low-income countries, including Bangladesh, are offline.
“Adolescent girls in Bangladesh want to contribute to a flourishing country, but barriers such as child marriage and violence hold them back,” said Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh. “Investing in their education, life skills, and digital literacy is critical. We urge the government to prioritize adolescent health, education, and empowerment.”
The report highlights concerning statistics: 24% of women aged 20-24 in Bangladesh gave birth before the age of 18, and 28% of adolescent girls aged 15-19 experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner in the last year. Additionally, only 47% of married adolescent girls aged 15-19 can make informed decisions about reproductive health.
Education for adolescent girls in Bangladesh remains a challenge, with a secondary education completion rate of only 59.22%. Furthermore, digital skills among girls are alarmingly low, with Bangladesh being among the seven countries where fewer than 2% of adolescent girls and young women possess such skills.
Gitanjali Singh, UN Women Representative in Bangladesh, stressed the need for urgent action: “Many young girls are still out of school and at risk of harmful practices. An ‘all-hands-on-deck’ approach is essential to unlock their potential and ensure their leadership in building a stronger Bangladesh.”
Kabita Bose, Country Director of Plan International Bangladesh, highlighted progress in reducing adolescent birth rates and increasing enrolment in education but noted significant gaps in education quality and digital skills. “Girls and young women lag alarmingly in digital skills and access to sexual and reproductive health. While progress is visible, much remains to be done to ensure their safety and mobility in public spaces,” she said.
The report underscores the need for urgent action in key areas, including elevating adolescent girls’ voices, closing education and skills gaps, and investing in interventions to protect girls from harmful practices. UNICEF, UN Women, and Plan International are collaborating with the Bangladeshi government, civil society, and communities to address these challenges.
The report also highlights some success stories. Bangladesh’s recent HPV vaccination campaign achieved a 93% vaccination rate among eligible girls, safeguarding them against cervical cancer and significantly improving adolescent health outcomes.
As Bangladesh and the world approach the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the report calls for intensified efforts to ensure no adolescent girl is left behind. It emphasizes that empowering girls is not just a matter of rights but also a critical investment in the stability and prosperity of communities and nations.
