Beirut, Lebanon – On the occasion of the International Day of the Girl, Plan International launched a worldwide campaign “Equal Power Now”, standing with girls and calling on leaders and powerholders to uphold their fundamental rights to participate in politics.
According to new research by Plan International, girls and young women worldwide constantly feel excluded from politics. In fact, a global survey of 29,000 girls and women aged 15-24 from 29 countries, found that respondents face significant barriers when taking part in political activities and feel poorly represented by the politicians elected to serve them.
The report, called Equal Power Now: Girls, Young Women and Political Participation was released ahead of the International Day of the Girl, and found that a clear majority care significantly about politics, with 97% of those surveyed agreeing that participating in politics is important and 83% saying they have personally done so.
But despite this, girls and young women are frequently shut out of political processes because of both their age and gender, with one in three (31%) saying they do not feel politics is open to their engagement or participation, and nearly half (45%) of those surveyed think politicians in their country fail to understand their views.
In response, a group of young activists from around the world wrote a Youth Manifesto which calls on politicians and other leaders worldwide to support girls and young women to participate in politics.
This includes increasing civic education, creating more policies and strategies that facilitate the meaningful participation of girls in politics, and adopting a zero-tolerance approach to violence against female politicians and activists.
To celebrate the International Day of the Girl, 6 girls from Lebanon will be taking over diplomatic positions, redefining what it means to be political, and demanding to be seen as movement leaders, activists, changemakers, and politicians.
“When we express our opinions and know our rights, then we will have a new generation that will make a change and get what we want” – Jen, 23 years old.
They are determined to take their place in
politics and decision-making. From local councils, in governments, and within foreign
policy and policy-making, girls want their voices to be heard and they want
access to formal decision-making.
Therefore, throughout October, girls and young women will spend a day in the
place of ambassadors, heads of UN agencies, and decision-makers, which will put
them in decision-making and leadership positions, and encourage powerholders to
hear their views and gain their insights.
“With all the political momentum in the country, now more than ever, girls and young women need to raise their voices about their needs and interest in being in the political arena, and their calls need to be heard by powerholders and decision-makers in Lebanon. Plan International will always stand by girls and open up spaces for them to express themselves and raise their voices” – Safo Visha, Country Director of Plan International Lebanon.
The takeovers titled “Listen to Our Voice”, will be promoted and broadcasted on Plan International Lebanon’s social media platforms, following a digital campaign that falls under Plan’s Girls Get Equal campaign, calling for a world where girls in all their diversity are equally able to make decisions about their own lives and shape the world around them.
- Equal Power Now: Girls, Young Women
and Political Participation is released ahead of International
Day of the Girl on October 11, 2022.
For more information, please view the full report at https://plan-international.org/equal-power-now - Girls Get Equal is a global campaign for girls’ and young women’s voices, power, and leadership, which envisions a world where girls and young women, in all their diversity, are equally able to make decisions about their own lives and shape the world around them. This year, girls are campaigning for Equal Power Now by calling for greater participation in the political decisions that shape their world.
- The Youth Manifesto,
co-created with Plan International Global Young Influencers Group, is calling
for the meaningful participation of girls and young women in decision-making.
For more information, please view the full Youth Manifesto at http://plan-international.org/equal-power-manifesto - A takeover (also known as “Girls Belong Here”) is a youth engagement and influencing tool where a girl or young woman is supported to take on a leadership role in a political, economic, or social space around the Girls Get Equal global campaign.
Since
2018, Plan International has collectively organized over 400 takeovers across
60 offices to mark International Day of The Girl.
Plan International Lebanon is participating in the Girls Takeovers
for the second year.
- This year’s takeovers will be with the Ambassador of Australia, the Ambassador of Switzerland, the President of the National Commission of Lebanese Women, the Representative of UN Women, the Deputy Head of Cooperation of the European Union, the Deputy Representative of the UNHCR and decision-makers
- Follow these links for more information about Girls Takeovers from around the world:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVVdoqwMvz_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
KEY STATISTICS FROM THE GLOBAL SURVEY
- Three in ten (35%) girls don’t think politicians would listen to them because they are a girl or a young woman
- 1 in 3 (35%) girls and young women agreed that politicians not listening to them is the most common challenge to participating in politics.
- Only 11% of survey participants reported that they were generally happy with their leaders’ decisions on issues they care about.
- Only 39% of girls think politicians are representatives of the communities they serve.
- Fewer than 1 in 3 girls agreed that politicians and political leaders understand the views of girls and young women.
- 62% of respondents reported that the actions of their political leaders made them feel sad, stressed, worried, anxious, and unsafe.
- More than half (56%) have lost trust in political leaders as a result of decisions and actions.
- A majority of girls (67%) say it’s important that girls and young women participate in politics, to improve the situation of girls and young women in society.
- Only half of girls believed it was acceptable, in their communities, for girls to be politically active.
- One in five (19%) have personally been discouraged from engaging with or participating in politics.
- 42% of survey respondents agreed that female politicians suffer abuse and intimidation and that they are judged for how they look or dress.
About Plan International
Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.
We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion, and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected. Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.
We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national, and global levels using our reach, experience, and knowledge. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years and are now active in more than 75 c