- COUTURE AFRICA BY MARITA PAULINA
Girl’s Progress= Goals’ Progress: What Counts for Girls.
Girls are part of the large and vibrant global generation poised to take on the future. There are 1.1 billion girls today, a powerful constituency for shaping a sustainable world that’s better for everyone, brimming with talent and creativity. While we can applaud the ambition and potential, and recognize how girls’ progress is good not only for girls, but also for families, communities and society at large, we also recognize and appreciate the challenges, disadvantage and discrimination borne to girls everywhere on a daily basis. Their dreams and potential are often thwarted by discrimination, violence and lack of equal opportunities. There are glaring gaps in data and knowledge about the specific needs and challenges that girls face. When we invest in girls’ health, safety, education and rights – in times of peace and crisis – we empower them to reach for their dreams and build better lives for themselves and their communities.
We urge you to invest in programs aimed to help girls benefit, empower women and girls and raise awareness on their rights. Advocate for the adoption and implementation of laws and policies that prohibit and prevent child marriage, and mobilize communities against the practice.
On the International Day of the Girl Child, we stand with the global community to support girls’ progress everywhere. Let girls be girls.
