WASHINGTON, D.C., (January 28, 2020) - UNICEF USA welcomes today’s passage of H.R. 2153, the Keeping Girls in School Act, by the House of Representatives. Too often, girls are kept out of school due to child marriage, social discrimination, and harassment and violence. This bipartisan legislation would harness the power of U.S. foreign assistance to address the barriers girls face in accessing school through smart investments and coordination between U.S. Government agencies.

UNICEF USA commends the leadership of Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL) and Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) for re-introducing this measure in March 2019 and continuing to champion the bill up until this vote. We also applaud Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), who both originally co-sponsored the bill, for their commitment to protecting girls’ right to education. The bill unanimously passed through the House Foreign Affairs Committee in October and has 115 bipartisan cosponsors.

In order to become law, this measure must also be approved by the U.S. Senate. We call on Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-ID) and Ranking Member Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to advance this critical legislation that would leverage innovative financing and partnerships to positively impact girls’ access to and quality of education.

Empowering girls through education is the key to realizing their rights and potential to become active citizens who can help build better communities and a better world.

As a core part of UNICEF’s thematic work, UNICEF prioritizes investments in education for the most vulnerable – including girls – to ensure that every child has an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills they need for life and work. In addition to supporting this legislation and working with decision-makers, UNICEF USA remains committed to supporting UNICEF’s global work to help educate girls around the world.    

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About UNICEF

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to put children first. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. UNICEF USA supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. Together, we are working toward the day when no children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

For more information please contact:

Gabby Arias, UNICEF USA, 917.720.1306, garias@unicefusa.org