“Gender equality and education: the lighting of a fire” Almas Jiwani addresses Plan International Conference in El Salvador on International Day of the Girl


SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, Oct. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Almas Jiwani, CEO of Almas Jiwani Foundation and a global voice for gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, shared her insights on the complex realities of the advancement of women and girls in El Salvador at the Plan International Breakfast gala in San Salvador on October 11th 2018. The event was organized to mark the UN’s International Day of the Girl, which takes place each year on October 11. The theme for this year’s efforts is “With Her: A Skilled GirlForce,” which aims to “bring together partners and stakeholders to advocate for, and draw attention and investments to, the most pressing needs and opportunities for girls to attain skills for employability.”

The conference was hosted by Plan International with Attendees included women politicians and business leaders, country ambassadors, UN diplomats, civil society leaders on women’s rights, and youth representatives working with Plan International. Plan International representatives also took the opportunity to launch their new global campaign called “Girls Get Equal.”

"The silver bullet in terms of empowering girls and women worldwide is education. This becomes even more important in the developing world, where access to education is limited. By empowering girls and women to seek education, a society drastically improves its economic outlook, and changes not just their social capacity, but increases their potential for economic output," said Almas Jiwani.

"Girls today face many barriers like lack of access to education, teenage pregnancies, sexual abuse and harassment, among others. Plan International calls for a social and political change to tear down these barriers that hold girls back. With our new campaign Girls Get Equal, Plan seeks to promote empowerment and leadership so that girls and young people challenge stereotypes and are agents of change," said Carmen Elena Aleman, Country Director for Plan International in El Salvador.

"We thank Almas Jiwani for sharing her valuable message in which we find a common point that crosses borders, and it is that we are convinced that education makes a difference and is key to achieving gender equality," added Carmen Elena Aleman.

There is an undeniable need for emphasis on the economic empowerment of women. With the ever-evolving innovation and automation of the current global workforce, it is vital now more than ever to help women acquire the skills required to thrive in the modern world. It is equally important to advocate for their rights. Girls make up 1.1 billion of the world’s population and they still face dire human and economic inequalities - a disparity that requires immediate and unwavering action.

About Almas Jiwani Foundation
The vision of The Almas Jiwani Foundation is to empower women, girls and marginalized communities through focused projects that directly address disparities in equality, education, entrepreneurship and energy rights. The Foundation aims to bridge inequalities through the fostering of relationships among the various actors and stakeholders in global issues, and provide a platform for discourse and action.

About Plan International
Plan International is an organization that sets to aid young people and children in making a positive long-lasting impact on their lives through their support of children’s rights and championing gender equality. By setting programs for positive influence and being outspoken activists of youth, Plan International puts the well-being and healthy development of young people as the foundation of their organization.

Contact information
Almas Jiwani Foundation
Nicole Mankinen
VP, Communications and International Development
info@almasjiwanifoundation.org
www.almasjiwanifoundation.org

Plan International Inc, - El Salvador
Francesca Cardenas –  Encargada de Relaciones Públicas/Head of Public Relations
Bulevar del Hipódromo # 671, col. San Benito
San Salvador, El Salvador
Tel:(503) 2246-6104; Móvil: (503) 7029-1579
Email:francesca.cardenas@plan-international.org
www.plan-international.org

Canadian Embassy in El Salvador
Valérie Bouchard
Foreign Policy and Public Affairs Officer
www.sansalvador.gc.ca
Téléphone | Telephone | Telefono (503) 2133-1129
Centro Financiero Gigante, 63 Avenida Sur y Alameda Roosevelt
Lobby II, San Salvador, El Salvador