The chairman of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSCOC), Bob Rae hosted the meeting. “The importance of pushing for fully equal rights for women and young girls is an official commitment of the United Nations, but it is also a personal commitment that we must fight for,” he stated.
Mr Rae urged the young audience to “be the voice” to create change in the world. ‘You must speak. You have to take a stand. You have to show interest. You must challenge sexism, hatred and discrimination wherever and however you find it,” he said.
This year’s theme, “Girls’ vision for the future”, highlights the urgent need for action, fueled by the voices of girls around the world.
Recent setbacks
“The potential of the more than 1.1 billion girls in the world is limitless,” Guterres said in his message to mark the Day.
“But as we get closer to the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world continues to fail girls.”
Today’s generation of girls is disproportionately affected by global crises of climate, conflict and poverty, which threaten their lives, limit their choices and limit their futures. Furthermore, progress is being made towards SDG 5 gender equality is at risk.
Education and child marriage
Worldwide, 119.3 million girls do not go to school and 39 percent of young women do not complete upper secondary education, research shows. UN women. The UN educational and cultural agency UNESCO shared earlier this month that the global cost of this learning gap could reach $10 trillion by 2030.
Meanwhile, child marriage remains a critical problem. A girl born today will be 68 years old before child marriage is eradicated. In 2024, 4.7 million babies were born to mothers under the age of 18, and of these, approximately 340,000 were born to girls under the age of 15. according to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).
Digital divide and technological risks
Now that more than 90 percent of jobs have a digital component, a billion girls and women lack the necessary skills to fully participate in the labor market. Closing the digital gender gap and addressing the risks girls face online are crucial to ensure their full participation in education, the economy and society. “Girls should feel safe both online and offline,” said activist Beatriz Fino Morfogen.
The Global digital compact and the Pact for the future offering a unique opportunity to break down barriers in science, technology and innovation while ensuring gender equality is embedded in digital strategies.
© UNICEF Chad/Annadjib Ramadane
Young women study at a center in Bol, Chad.
Girls desk
“Girls already have a vision of a world in which they can thrive. What they need now is for their voices to be heard and their ambitions to be supported,” said Mr Guterres.
In March 2025, the UN Commission on the Status of Women will assess the progress made in implementing the programme Beijing Declaration and Platform for Actiona landmark agreement for gender equality, adopted almost thirty years ago.
“The courage, hope and determination of girls are a force to be reckoned with. It is time for the world to take action and help turn their vision and ambitions into reality,” the UN chief concluded.
