Prince Harry opened Nepal Girl Summit in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

In the event, which follows the first Girl Summit held in the UK in 2014, Harry stressed on the need of education for girls to transform lives, families, communities and ultimately the entire country.

“We need to acknowledge that so many countries and cultures are failing to protect the opportunities of young women and girls in the way they do for boys,” the 32-year-old prince said in his speech. “I believe it is vitally important for men like me to acknowledge this as loudly and openly as role models do like President [Bidyha] Bhandari, the US First Lady Michelle Obama and activists like Malala.”

“Improved access to education can transform lives, families, communities and ultimately entire countries,” the Prince further said. “Female leadership in Nepal now sets a powerful example, with women occupying the roles of President and Speaker.”

Later in the day, Harry visited Sano Thimi Technical School in Bhaktapur, which provides technical skills to young Nepalis from underprivileged backgrounds, where he observed students at work. He also visited Kanti Children’s Hospital, where he met young people being treated in its burns unit, which operates with support from the British-led charity.

Prince Harry arrived in Nepal on Saturday as a representative of Queen Elizabeth to mark the bicentenary of diplomatic relations between Nepal and the UK.