Figure 1.1 Many girls in India have limited say in life events, Page 7 Data from India show that more than half of girls have little or no say in life-changing events, including when to marry, when to have children, or whether to pursue schooling. A girl’s ability to have a say in life events can increase with age, but many crucial life choices, such as marriage and schooling, are decided early on.

Figure 1.2 Girls’ Ideal and Actual Ages of Marriages are Similar in Nepal and Bangladesh, Page 7 Data from Nepal and Bangladesh show a significant gap between girls’ ideal age at marriage and their actual ages at marriage. On average, girls in both countries marry three years earlier than they would prefer. Girls express interest in marrying and having children, but they prefer to marry later, have some say in their choice of spouse, and have more control over when to have children and how many to have.

Figure 1.3 Girls 9-17 Asia Pacific Region were asked: What specific rights are you aware of?, Page 38 According to a UNICEF survey of youth in 17 countries in East Asia and the Pacific, few girls realize they have rights. A total of 53% of girls ages 9–17 knew they had a right to education; only one-third believed they had a right to express their ideas or opinions. Less than one-fourth of girls in the region East Asia said they were aware of their right not to be hurt or mistreated.

Table 1.0 Marriage interferes directly with aspirations for schooling (data from Bangladesh), Page 8 A study in Bangladesh found that a majority of girls recognize the importance of education and believe that girls should be allowed to obtain as much schooling as they want. Nearly 74% of unmarried girls say they would like to continue schooling after they marry; however, only 30% of married girls are actually attending school. Although continuing education is difficult for married girls in Bangladesh, it is even more challenging in other South Asian countries. Girls in this region rarely continue their studies after marrying.