At Ipas, we know that the world won’t achieve gender equality if we don’t invest in girls’ rights—especially their right to bodily autonomy. Girls and young women must be able to make informed decisions about their own bodies and health.

What does investing in girls’ right to bodily autonomy look like? Since International Day of the Girl was this week, we’ve collected a few examples of Ipas’s work in this crucial area:

• An Ipas-supported mobile clinic in Democratic Republic of Congo provided sexual and reproductive health care to nearly 1,000 women and girls displaced by armed conflict.

• A nationwide public-school curriculum developed by Ipas in collaboration with Bolivia’s department of education works to prevent childhood sexual violence.

• New research from Ipas and Political Research Associates shows why bisexual and pansexual youth need comprehensive sexuality education that meets their needs.

• Male youth leaders in India are trained by Ipas to provide much-needed information on sexual and reproductive health to their peers. In doing so, they also chip away at traditional gender roles and build support for girls’ and young women’s rights.

The common thread across these examples is ensuring girls and young women have access to accurate sexual and reproductive health information and care. This access is essential for any society to achieve true gender equality.

Here's to building a world where all girls can determine their own futures!

- Your friends at Ipas