How to better support girls globally?

In March, women are at the forefront of the cultural conversation. Recently, on March 8th, International Women’s Day was recognized—a moment that originally sprung from a movement to fight against child labor and sweatshop working conditions. This year’s theme was accelerating action, and I feel fortunate in my role as chief philanthropy officer at UNICEF USA, that I can support girls around the world—our future leaders, scientists, engineers, mothers, entrepreneurs, and more.

What are the barriers standing in their way? And how do we accelerate action?

Right now, it’s estimated that we won’t see full gender parity until 2158. I don’t want to wait for my great-great-great grandchild to live in a world where girls have a fair shot at life. As a mother of three girls, this is also personal. We need the next generation of girls and women everywhere to be catalysts for lasting change.

Female genital mutilation still occurs

Last month, I traveled to Senegal to see UNICEF’s work firsthand. I visited a program that provides emergency assistance to young victims of violence and abuse, I met with a women’s teachers’ network that champions education for girls, and I visited programs equipping girls and young women with skills in leadership, communication, and entrepreneurship.

At an adolescent training center in Kolda, we met Khadidiatou D. “Khadi,” who performed a slam poem about female genital mutilation (FGM), a dangerous procedure she underwent as a child. Khadi uses what she’s learned at the center to advocate with local leaders and parents to prevent other girls from experiencing the mental and physical suffering due to FGM.

We also spoke with Sally S., who learned skills to support herself and her family. She makes and sells dyed cloth, sanitary napkins, and soap from local plants like moringa, lemon, and aloe vera.

In addition to running her own small business, Sally pays it forward by training girls in Kolda who have disabilities like her. Sally’s disability is the result of FGM, which over 2 million girls and women in Senegal have experienced. Before joining the adolescent center, Sally was hesitant to even leave her house because of the stigma of her disability, which she thought would prevent her from joining the center. When the head of the center asked her to join, she was surprised to be invited—much less encouraged—to join.

Address root causes of exclusion

My time in Senegal reminded me that championing gender equality requires us to address root causes of exclusion. Violence like Khadi and Sally endured—as well as child marriage, lack of menstrual hygiene, and teenage pregnancy—are some of the barriers girls and women around the world face. Sobering data from other regions illustrate the prevalence of gender-based violence. For example, our new report shows that 221 rape cases in Sudan against children have been recorded since 2024 began. Total cases are likely higher, as survivors and their families often don’t come forward due to challenges accessing services or out of fear of retribution.

But there is hope. A recent report issued by UNICEF, Plan International, and UN Women indicates that FGM is declining. Nations like Burkina Faso and Liberia are cutting the share of girls subjected to the practice over the last 30 years by half. This progress is promising, but we need to go 27 times faster to entirely meet our 2030 target FGM eradication goal entirely.

Education is vital

We must protect girls. But protection is not enough. They need opportunities to learn and pursue their goals.

An estimated 129 million girls are not in school, globally. In some cultures, families favor sons over daughters when investing in their children’s education. In Afghanistan, girls are barred from high school and college classrooms due to national restrictions. Around the world, girls aged 10-14 are twice as likely to spend excessive hours on household chores than boys of the same age; often fetching water from faraway sources because of poor water and sanitation systems. Unpaid work all too often falls to girls and women, pushing education farther out of their reach.

Despite challenges, we are making progress in Senegal and all over the world. In Senegal, the government increased resourcing for FGM elimination in 2023 by 50%. Further, FGM in Senegal hit its lowest point in 2023. And progress is possible when it comes to education as well—today, 50 million more girls are in school globally compared to a decade ago and completion rates have ticked up too.

These encouraging results, and what I saw in Senegal, gave me not only hope but the energy to continue to advocate and steward support for programs that will truly change the lives of girls and young people who simply want a chance at living a life they dream about.

Milestones like International Women’s Day allow us to take a moment to stop and see how far we’ve come, and remind us how far we still have to go. Philanthropy exists to advance pathways to opportunity. Progress is possible; but a future of possibility for girls like Khadi and Sally exists only if we remain steadfast in doing our part to break down barriers and accelerate action.

Michele Walsh is executive vice president and chief philanthropy officer of UNICEF USA.

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