e websiDhaka, 8 March 2025 – A new global report, "Girl Goals: What has changed for girls? Adolescent girls’ rights over 30 years," released today by UNICEF, UN Women, and Plan International to mark the International Women’s Day, recognizes the benefits to communities that invest in girls, particularly adolescent girls. It emphasizes the benefits extend beyond the individual, to the stability and economic development of their communities and countries. The report highlights improvements in areas such as life expectancy, but calls for serious attention to be paid to adolescent girls in Bangladesh, which still grapple with persistent inequalities, violence, child marriage, a lack of education and limited opportunities.  The report measures progress by countries thirty years after commitments were made in the 1995 Beijing Declaration. The report concludes that progress for girls has been made across many domains. Investments in education have paid dividends, while access to health care for girls has improved. Girls today are less likely to marry in childhood, with countries like Bangladesh still lagging behind with over fifty per cent of girls falling under this harmful practice, the highest in Asia. Yet despite robust evidence that investing in adolescent girls has a multiplier effect for girls, communities and countries, they continue to fall behind their male peers in many areas. For instance, adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 are still twice as likely to not be in education, employment or training, and 9 out of 10 in low income countries are offline.  Of particular concern, the report notes that no country has yet met even half of the 16 SDG targets crucial to adolescent girls' well-being, and calls for significant refocus with only five years left to achieve the 2030 SDG Agenda. "Adolescent girls in Bangladesh want to contribute to a flourishing Bangladesh where they can embrace opportunities and support their country to thrive. Yet, barriers and discrimination continue to hold them, and their country back. Access to life skills and digital literacy are critical but so too is addressing the extremely high rates of child marriage and violence against girls and women, which in turn leads to early and dangerous childbearing – which too often claims the lives of the young girl and the baby," said Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh. “This International Women’s Day let's break barriers and create equal opportunities, driving hope for all. We must amplify girls' voices and ensure their participation in decision-making. At a crucial time of change in Bangladesh and responding to the call from the young women and men for a better future, we urge the government to invest in adolescent health services, a strong social work workforce, education, nutrition, ensuring life skills and digital literacy for all girls.” According to the report, Bangladesh has the 8th highest prevalence of child marriage in the world and the highest prevalence in Asia,1 with 51.4 percent of women aged 20-24 marrying before 182. This scourge perpetuates poverty for girls, risking their health and limiting their potential and the economic growth of Bangladesh, as half of the population is at risk.  The report3 shows that globally child marriage and early childbearing are closely linked, with 24 percent of women aged 20-24 giving birth before 18 in Bangladesh. Additionally, 28 per cent of adolescent girls aged 15-19 in Bangladesh have experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner during the last 12 months, and only 47 percent of married adolescent girls aged 15-19 can make informed decisions about reproductive health. “As we commemorate 30 years of the Beijing Declaration, we celebrate progress on the rights of women and girls while acknowledging that gains remain slow, fragile, and uneven. In Bangladesh, many young girls are still out of school, at risk of harmful practices and violence.  An 'all-hands-on-deck' approach is essential to advance their potential. Investing in their empowerment and leadership is not just the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do,” said Gitanjali Singh, UN Women Representative in Bangladesh. The completion rate for adolescent girls in secondary education in Bangladesh is 59.22 per cent.4 The report stresses the need for significant efforts by the Government and all stakeholders to meet the 2030 SDG targets for adolescent girls' education.  The report also highlights that among all countries reported, Bangladesh is among the seven countries with the proportion of adolescent girls and young women with digital skills ranging from 2 per cent or fewer.  “I am very happy to observe that Bangladesh has made high efforts to reduce adolescent birth rates, increasing services for skilled birth attendants, and girls and young women's economic participation. Improvements are also visible in the enrolment and completion rates of girls in primary, secondary and higher secondary enrolment,” said Kabita Bose, Country Director at Plan International Bangladesh. “However, the quality of education remains a challenge. Girls and young women are alarmingly lagging behind in digital skills. There are still a lot to do to reduce child, early and forced marriage and access to sexual and reproductive health and rights for adolescents as well as safe mobility for girls in the public spheres. Plan International is working to empower girls and youth with the goal of 'All Girls Standing Strong Creating Global Change’ until we are all equal.” Despite many challenges, the report reveals that the life expectancy of 15-year old adolescent girls has increased globally to 79.1 years (4.5 years longer), marking improvements in health and well-being. Thanks to new campaigns like the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, the health and future of millions of girls across Bangladesh is better protected by safeguarding them against cervical cancer, a disease that claims the lives of thousands of women in the country annually. UNICEF supported a successful Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination campaign in 2023-24, with 93 per cent of eligible girls vaccinated against HPV across the country. Overall, the report calls for urgent action to address the stalled progress in key areas, including: Elevating adolescent girls’ voices and supporting their advocacy. Focusing on closing the education, skills, and training gap, particularly in digital literacy. Investing in data-driven interventions to address the most pressing needs of adolescent girls, with a focus on economic empowerment. In Bangladesh, UNICEF, UN Women, and Plan International are working with the government, civil society, and communities to ensure every adolescent girl has equal opportunity to thrive. The three organizations support efforts to prevent child marriage, strengthen child protection and social workforce, shift harmful norms, enhance health systems, and empower girls and communities as change agents. , filtered_html

DHAKA– The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warns of a critical funding shortfall for its emergency response operations in Bangladesh, jeopardizing food assistance for over one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Without urgent new funding, monthly rations must be halved to US$6 per person, down from US$12.50 per person – just as refugees prepare to observe Eid, marking the end of Ramadan. All Rohingya receive vouchers that are redeemed for their choice of food at designated retailers in the camps. To sustain full rations, WFP urgently requires US$15 million for April, and US$81 million until the end of 2025. "The Rohingya refugee crisis remains one of the world's largest and most protracted,” said Dom Scalpelli, WFP Country Director in Bangladesh. “Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh remain entirely dependent on humanitarian assistance for their survival. Any reduction in food assistance will push them deeper into hunger and force them to resort to desperate measures just to survive.” In recent months, new waves of Rohingya refugees, potentially exceeding 100,000 people, have crossed into Bangladesh, fleeing conflict in neighbouring Myanmar. The continued influx of Rohingya seeking safety places an even greater strain on already overstretched resources. WFP has already begun communicating with the Rohingya community about the potential ration cuts. This coincides with the holy month of Ramadan – a sacred period for Muslims worldwide, including for the majority of the Rohingya – observed as a time for solidarity and support. “Now more than ever, the Rohingya need us to stand with them. These families have nowhere else to go, and WFP’s food aid is the difference between survival and despair. Immediate support is urgently needed to prevent this crisis from escalating further," added Scalpelli. In 2023, severe funding constraints forced WFP to reduce rations from US$12 to US$8 per person per month, leading to a sharp decline in food consumption and the worst levels of malnutrition among children since 2017 – reaching over 15 percent – above the emergency threshold. Rations were later increased when funding was received. For a population with no legal status, no freedom of movement outside the camps, and no sustainable livelihood opportunities, further cuts will exacerbate protection and security risks. As in 2023, women and girls, in particular, may face heightened risks of exploitation, trafficking, prostitution, and domestic violence. Children may be pulled out of school and forced into child labour, while girls may be married off at a young age as families resort to desperate measures to survive. Refugee populations across the globe are often the first to face cuts to aid, despite being among the most vulnerable. As funding shortfalls grow and needs continue to rise, the Rohingya and many other communities are left with fewer resources to survive.    , filtered_html

 WHAT: UNICEF, in collaboration with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), National University of Singapore, is launching the "Young Leadership Programme," a residential programme designed to empower young leaders in Bangladesh. This initiative aims to equip university students and recent graduates with essential skills in policymaking, advocacy, and leadership. The programme will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the public policy cycle, strategies for inclusive leadership, and tools for impactful social change. Participants will also develop critical leadership skills, including strategic decision-making, effective communication, and adaptive problem-solving.Up to 30 participants will be selected for the programme, which includes full financial support covering programme costs, accommodation, food, and transportation to/from the venue.  For detailed information, read and download the full application guideline: WHO: Young Bangladeshi leaders who:Hold a minimum bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Bangladesh.Are fluent in English.Demonstrate a commitment to peace and prosperity through professional work, study or community experience.Age below 30 years. WHEN: Application Period: 5 March – 30 March 2025Programme Dates: 4-10 May 2025 (including travel days) WHERE: Dhaka, Bangladesh (Residential) HOW TO APPLY:  Applicants must submit the following documents to infobangladesh@unicef.org with the subject line "Application Young Leaders 2025" by 30 March 2025:Statement of Purpose (maximum three pages)Resume/CV (maximum two pages)Passport-size photo (JPG file)Two Professional Letters of RecommendationCopies of academic certificatesSelf-Introductory video in English (maximum 2 minutes) WHY: This programme aims to cultivate the next generation of leaders in Bangladesh, enabling them to drive positive social and policy changes within their communities and the nation. UNICEF’S COMMITMENT: UNICEF is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring equal opportunity for all applicants, regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, or socioeconomic background. UNICEF strongly encourages applications from women and individuals from minority groups to foster diversity and inclusion. For more information please contact: Faria Selim, Communication Specialist, UNICEF Bangladesh,  fselim@unicef.org, filtered_html

 The Government of Japan has allocated approximately USD 3.3 million (JPY 500 million) to support UNICEF’s response to the humanitarian needs of Rohingya refugees. Through this grant, 65,000 Rohingya refugees, 41,000 of them children, will be reached in Bangladesh, providing them access to education, WASH, health and nutrition support in Cox’s Bazar District and Bhasan Char. An Exchange of Notes was signed by H.E. Mr. SAIDA Shinichi, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh and Ms Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh. During the signing ceremony at the UNICEF office in Dhaka, H.E. Mr. SAIDA Shinichi, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh said, “I would like to commend the effort by UNICEF who has been forefront in the Rohingya camps to meet the needs for every child in such key sectors as health, education, nutrition, protection and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). This contribution from Japan to UNICEF comes at a critical time, when fundraising for the Rohingya humanitarian response is essential. Japan will continue to work towards sustainable solutions for this humanitarian crisis and will keep cooperating with international organizations including UNICEF.” Ms. Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh stated, “Every day Rohingya children struggle against overwhelming odds. They have limited access to education, face cultural barriers and are in constant threat of waterborne diseases, malnutrition, and inadequate healthcare at overcrowded facilities. Like any other children, they deserve an opportunity to learn, be healthy, feel safe and thrive, now more than ever. We are thankful for the unwavering support from the Government of Japan in expanding critical services for these vulnerable children. This partnership is a testament to our shared commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of every child, no matter where they are.” Over seven years ago, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled attacks and violence in Myanmar, joining refugees already in Bangladesh from previous waves of displacement. Currently, about half a million Rohingya refugee children are growing up in the world’s largest refugee camp. Many of them have been born there as refugees. The Rohingya rely entirely on humanitarian assistance for protection, food, water, shelter and health. Since the onset of the emergency in August 2017, Japan has been a significant supporter of the response to the Rohingya humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh, contributing approximately USD 240 million to UN agencies and NGOs in the country. UNICEF, working with the Government of Bangladesh and partners, has been on the ground in the refugee camps in Bangladesh from day one, and is still there for every Rohingya refugee child who needs clean water, health care, protection, nutritious food and education. For media queries, Faria Selim, fselim@unicef.org, filtered_html