We want to believe we are on a constantly forward-moving trajectory when it comes to progress for girls internationally. If we just sit and wait 131 years for gender equity, as the World Economic Forum predicted earlier this year, then it will eventuate.
But for the 1.1 billion girls internationally who could live long enough to see at least some of such anticipated progress in their lifetimes, and likely in their daughters’ lifetimes, simply waiting and hoping won’t make it happen.
In 2023 – even just in the past few weeks – we have seen how essential it is to keep making noise about the plight of girls internationally. The need to remain vigilant on the rights of girls is ever-preset, as is to consider the added and unique impact conflict, climate change, hunger and the cost of living on girls internationally.
October 11 is the Day of the Girl Child. It’s a time to consider the additional hurdles girls face, especially from the threat multipliers to their safety and economic security from the climate crisis and conflict.
The past week’s violence in Israel resulted in shocking acts of violence against women and girls, with hundreds killed. Plus, the retaliation back into the Gaza Strip, where hundreds have been killed in just the past few days, and what could now be a projected blockade that could put girls at further risk of violence, being unable to access food, waters and resources they need, and missing school and taking on more unpaid care and domestic work.
Then there was the recent Earthquake in Afghanistan, where three-quarters of those killed were women and girls – and, living under Taliban rule who have stolen their most basic rights, girls face unique and additional barriers in getting the emergency care and support they need.
Ongoing climate crises result in more intense and projected weather events, such as floods and drought. In Africa, as climate activist Vanessa Nakate highlights, the climate crisis is disproportionately impacting girls.
Globally, almost one in five girls are still not completing lower-secondary school, and almost four in 10 girls do not complete upper-secondary school. There are an estimated 122 million girls still out of school, according to UNESCO. Girls take on an estimated 160 million hours more unpaid care and domestic work every day than boys.
And one thing that often goes missing in the streaming headlines out of conflict zone is that the world is now experiencing the biggest global food crisis in history. Conflict and the climate crisis are contributing to rising fuel and food costs, with 350 million people currently experiencing the most extreme forms of hunger and 49 million people on the brink of famine. Girls are at greater risk of gender-based violence and forced marriage in hunger-plagued zones.
There are stats to consider in Australia – including the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous girls. Girls are also up against continued stereotypes, as research released today by Plan International Australia reveals, with 22 per cent of Australian parents admitting they don’t treat their daughters equally to their sons. Girls too, face evolving pressures on social media, including from digital abuse, negative body image concerns and trolling.
Girls do not have a say in where they were born, nor do they have agency over who governs them and determines their rights – including their ability to pursue education. And, even where girls may have more agency and can expect to participate in democratic processes when they get older, we see how much girls are losing trust in political leaders. As Plan International UK has found on a study released today, only 15 per cent of girls and young women believe their political leaders act in their best interests. They might, rightfully, we wondering what will be left of their democratic institutions when they become voting age, as well as just how far gone we could be on addressing climate change to limit the worst case scenarios.
One thing 2023 has also taught us is the value of women and girls as consumers — of sport involving girls and women, movies that actually include characters they can aspire and relate to, and of music and other forms of entertainment by women and girls. We have had the talk of Barbinomics, of The Matildas Effect and of the Taylor Uptick.
When brands see girls as consumers — immediately now and their potential into the future — they take notice.
But what about seeing girls as leaders, innovators and community builders in the future? Protecting the rights of girls, responding to their unique challenges and actually investing in their futures is not about merely doing the right thing to support them in accessing opportunities; it’s also about enabling all of us to access their valuable contributions and participation now later on.