HASToday, in the world, a minor girl is forced into marriage every two seconds, according toUnicef. Teenage pregnancies are still the second leading cause of death for girls aged 15 to 19, according to theWHO, and at least two hundred million girls and women have undergone genital mutilation. In France, it is estimated that each year 130,000 girls have suffered rape and attempted rape (“ Sexual violence in childhood », Ipsos survey, 2019). At this rate, it will take three hundred years to achieve gender equality in the world, according to UN Women.
This reality is unacceptable to millions of young activists, who are willing to risk their safety, even their lives, to bring about change. When their rights are not respected, activism is sometimes the only way to make themselves heard.
But it is too often at the risk of their lives that these young women speak out: one girl or young woman activist in five has already feared for their safety while carrying out their activist activities, according to a new study by Plan International ( “ Changing the world: girls and young women activists lead the fight for equality », Plan International, 2023).
This study, in which more than a thousand young activists aged 15 to 24 from twenty-six countries participated, highlights the challenges they face: hostility from members of their community, repression law enforcement, online violence… The objective of this violence is clear: to silence them, exclude them from a public space that is still very masculine. Girls are seen as even less legitimate to express themselves because of their age. Their commitment, however, reminds us that age is not an obstacle to action, and that every voice counts to build a more just and egalitarian world.
Improving access to education for girls is the best we can do to train future activists: it is education that will give them the keys to fight for their rights. An educated girl is better able to make her voice heard and participate in the political and civic life of her country.
Concrete actions
Education provides girls with the theoretical and practical knowledge and skills necessary for activist action: understanding their fundamental rights and the injustices they may face, learning to communicate effectively and mobilize others to support their initiatives, strengthen autonomy and self-confidence.
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