Thank you so much for inviting me to speak to the committee today.
COVID-19 has really increased the vulnerability, especially for children and girls, in situations of conflict and displacement. Plan International is one of the largest international child rights organizations. We strive to end gender inequality and promote children's rights everywhere. We work in contexts that are heavily burdened by crisis and conflict.
As a global organization, Plan International's COVID-19 response has reached over 72 million women, men, girls and boys with life-saving programs in developing countries and countries that are facing crises and conflict.
Today I want to highlight three key points. Number one, COVID is deepening inequalities with a disproportionate impact on young girls and eroding the progress that has been made so far on children's rights and gender equality. Number two, the magnitude of the problem we are facing in this COVID pandemic requires global, holistic, system-wide approaches and solutions. Number three, this is the time, more than ever before, to ask for Canada's leadership to advance the rights of children, especially girls.
Let me elaborate the first point. Plan International is deeply concerned about the pandemic's impact on children, especially girls. The consequences of the pandemic have been grave. Over 13 million children are refugees and there are 17 million internally displaced children living in camps and often in very overcrowded settlements. Girls in crisis are telling us that COVID has further worsened the existing vulnerabilities that children have been facing. The risk of transmission of disease is very high in these overcrowded places. The education system is often inadequate. Even basic services like water and sanitation infrastructure are inadequate. Sexual and reproductive health rights are threatened, and we are seeing gender-based violence increase at an exponential rate in this COVID pandemic.
Around the world, Plan has adapted its programs to respond to this pandemic in communities where we work. Our response aims to prevent transmission, mitigate the impact of COVID among the world's most vulnerable children in refugee camps, displaced settlements and conflict environments.
My second point is that the pandemic is shining a light on the fragmented system we have. A well-thought-out response requires a coordinated, integrated, system-wide strategy, a whole-of-government strategy. This may seem like a tall order, but we all know that this is the effective way forward.
Let's take an example. The education system is a lifeline for children in a crisis context. It is estimated that more than 128 million children are out of school because of conflict and disasters. Every day a girl in crisis is out of school she is at a risk of physical violence, sexual violence and psychological distress, and lacks adequate nutrition. She faces an increasing risk of early marriage, often forced marriage, child labour, trafficking and armed conflict.
Having been a refugee myself who has gone through crisis as a young girl, I can tell you that it changes the course of one's life. But I was fortunate. Through it all, my education remained constant, but for most of the refugee girls and children, that is not the case. If the current trend continues, by 2030 only one in three girls in crisis-affected countries will ever get to complete secondary school. During times of crisis, all actors have to redouble their efforts to ensure that we have a robust system to protect and safeguard children, especially girls.
My final point is that Canada's leadership is needed now more than ever. Canadians can be proud of our global response to COVID. Global problems like global pandemics require robust, bold solutions. The pandemic has heightened awareness that the planet is truly interconnected. The prosperity of Canadians is linked to people around the world.
Plan Canada welcomed the Speech from the Throne commitment to increase official development assistance. We look forward to seeing this commitment being actioned in the next budget. This investment is urgently needed, and with a timetable.
In closing, as the world grapples with the crisis, new gender transformative pathways are needed to build back better. Plan Canada stands ready to ensure that Canada's international COVID response carves a path that positively impacts the lives of millions of children globally, especially the girls who need it most and were often left behind.
Thank you.