Overview
At 10, a girl arrives at a vulnerable point in her life. She must negotiate a tricky transition to adulthood, with its rapid changes in body and brain, and dramatic shifts in family and social expectations. Although risks abound for both girls and boys, gender discrimination makes these risks worse for girls in almost every way. The world has already done well in many ways for the 10-year-old boy. It is past time to do equally well for the 10-year-old girl.
For the first time in history, the 2030 Agenda explicitly commits countries to leaving no one behind as they seek to develop. This puts the world on notice that no 10-year-old girl can remain on the margins, abandoned to poverty, illness or ignorance. This chapter examines what is already being done around the world to contribute to realising this vision.
