PRESS CONFERENCE on girls’ SITUATION worldwide

 

Girls around the world needed to receive the same educational and other opportunities as boys, as well as become more aware of their own strength, in order to achieve a bright future, participants at a special event entitled “Girls Speak Out”, sponsored by the Commission on the Status of Women, told the media during a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.

The press conference was held immediately following the event, which had been moderated by television news anchor Katie Couric.

“Girls have a lot of power,” said 18-year-old Golfidan al Abassy from Jordan, who discussed her experiences as part of an organization aimed at empowering girls through activities like theatre and web design.  “If we give them the chance to prove themselves, they will be great persons.”

“They should know that they have their own rights,” added Chinyanta Chimba from Zambia, a member of the Student Alliance for Female Education.  “It is time that we stand up as young girls and speak out.”

Fifteen-year-old Sunita Tamang from Nepal stressed that Governments should ensure that every working child got a free education.  While she helped support her single mother by working in a match factory, Ms. Tamang counted herself as lucky, since she was at least able to attend school in the mornings, compared to many boys in her community who were not able to go to school at all.

Ms. Chimba also expressed the hope for equal access to educational opportunities, perhaps through the creation of more schools.  Because of the poverty in Zambia, she said that many parents chose to send boys, rather than girls, to school.

Ms. Tamang described forming a club to help other working children fight for their rights.  She said that her organization was an oasis where boys believed that girls deserved equal opportunity.  Outside the club, however, it was a different matter.  “They feel ‘girls, what can they do?  No matter how they try, they’ll be girls after all’.”

Asked to compare their situations with those of girls in wealthier countries, Ms. Chimba said that working was an essential part of survival for young people, with the poorest of the poor crushing stones to earn a living.  “In my country, it is not possible for you to just go to school and come back.  There is no other way you are going to have money to at least have a good life.” 

Asked what their future ambitions were, Ms. Al Abassy said she wanted to teach other girls how to use computers, while Ms. Tamang said that she hoped to continue helping children by working with her organization, which also enjoyed support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Ms. Chimba said she had two ambitions.  “I want to be a doctor […] and I want to become the first-ever female Secretary-General of the United Nations”.

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For information media • not an official record