A major new report published by global children’s charity Plan International UK ranks for the first time the best and worst areas to be a girl in Yorkshire and the Humber.
The landmark research uses five key indicators to produce a league table of local authorities across the region, with Kingston-upon-Hull rated the worst and Craven the best.
The State of Girls’ Rights in the UK ranks areas according to child poverty, female life expectancy, teenage pregnancy, girls’ GCSE results and the numbers of girls Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEETs).
Following Craven, the best authorities to grow up as a girl were Harrogate (2nd), Hambleton (3rd), Ryedale (4th) and Richmondshire (5th).
However, research shows a divided picture across the region, with Kingston-upon-Hull performing much worse, followed by North East Lincolnshire (2nd), Barnsley (3rd), Bradford (4th) and Doncaster (5th) to make up the ‘bottom five.’
York ranked 6th best whilst Leeds was 6th worst. “While there is a mixed picture across the region, it’s clear that many girls in Yorkshire and the Humber are experiencing real challenges in terms of their education and health,” says Plan International UK head of girls’ rights, Kerry Smith.
“And despite living in one of the most developed countries on earth, too many girls in the UK don’t enjoy their rights.”
Plan International UK launches the report as part of its flagship Because I am a Girl campaign to tackle gender inequality.
The charity is calling for a six-point action plan to progress girls’ rights across the UK – and Girls’ Rights Champions to be appointed at national, devolved and local levels.