Girls speak directly to world leaders: “we aren’t asking for your permission to lead”
"We are here to claim what’s rightfully ours and the table will always be stronger when it is shared. Girls are not only the future, we are the present." Photo credit: Kate Lord.
Hear what girls are demanding from world leaders at the Summit of the Future.
When girls are sidelined, they spring to action. Over the weekend, girls gathered in protest of the Summit of the Future held by the United Nations in New York to tell leaders exactly what they want for their future.
We know that girls have been leading for years. Young women are at the forefront of climate change, reproductive rights and education access and you might be one of them. But when girls’ voices on matters that affect them are ignored, they bring out the bullhorn and demand to be listened to!
When girls are excluded from decision-making spaces, it results in policies that don’t reflect girls. Simple as that.
Hear what girls are demanding from world leaders because girls are the experts in their own lives.
“We’re done being told our ideas are too bold, too idealistic. The truth is we are already leading and it's time for those in positions of authority to listen up: make room at the head of the table, not on the sidelines or get out of the way. Girls have been at the forefront of change for centuries.” — Eylül, 19, Turkiye
“When we [girls] speak and shout, look out. Maybe I am only 13 and I don’t matter to the world, but the world matters to me. And my pen still triumphs over any sword. I am here — we are here — and we are burning with demands that will not be denied so you better start listening to our pens. — Serena, 13, United States
“Recently women have been denied a right to speak in public and to 14-year-old Nila, this is the nightmare I was escaping from. And the reality my friends are living each day. I'm not proud to say Afghanistan is the epicentre of hatred against women, and yet I'm often one of the few Afghan girls raising awareness about it. We should all aim to change that by empowering more girls like me to find success so that they can find the power in their voices to strengthen democracy and human rights in their new homes, and one day back in Afghanistan.” — Nila, 17, Afghanistan
“Every girl deserves the right to feel safe within their community and this starts with them being at the forefront of the conversations and having them be the ones making the decisions. If any leader is listening right now, I want you to know that all girls not only deserve a seat but also deserve an amplifying microphone to ensure that we are heard.” — Allison, 20, Malaysia
[In French] “Girls have the right to be listened to and we must be listened because we have something to say.” — Nassiratou, Niger
“There is a need for partnerships between global leaders rather than competition and at the forefront: the girls must lead, the youth and children must lead. They must be partners in this, not just sidelined. Now is the time we act.” — Nicole, 17, Zimbabwe
“Millions of girls and women are deprived of autonomy and fundamental human rights because they are left out of the conversation. The UN’s decision to exclude critical voices like ours from the summit is not just an oversight, it is a failure. We demand that the UN and global leaders recognize that we are not passive participants in this world, we are the future they are supposedly constructing. Our voices and experiences must be at the centre of this process or that future will never come.” — Rebecca, 22, United States
“I am a girl. I have to stand here and scream at the United Nations to get them to listen to me. I am a girl. I am a part of a unified group of sisters who are done asking for permission. We are here to claim what’s rightfully ours and the table will always be stronger when it is shared. Girls are not only the future, we are the present. We are already facing today’s challenges — from the impacts of climate change to the disparities in education — who is more qualified to solve these issues than the people who are experiencing them directly?” — Sania, 19, United States
“Girls want to lead conversations on matters that affect their lives because they are already leading change in their communities. Girls want to lead their futures. They are tired of you deciding for them and making decisions for their futures. Girls want to lead.” — Joan, 25, Uganda
“Governments not being held accountable for violence [against women] is infuriating. Gender-based violence must end. Women around the world must have the basic right of feeling safe in their own homes.” — Aarohi, 16, United States/India
“We want the freedom to dream big. We want education, not just as a privilege but as a right. We know education is key to opening doors we never dreamed possible. We want access to education that protects us. We want to be heard and have a say in the decisions that affect our lives.” — Arianna, 19, Dominican Republic
“We are the leaders of today, we have our voices right here, right now. We come from all over the world and we have our voices united and we are demanding for our right to be heard, for our justice to be heard and for us to be liberated across the world. Enough is enough.” — Raven, 24, Australia
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