As a global community, we have made a great progress for girls and young women. Together, we have raised global awareness on critical issues that threaten the fundamental rights of our girls like: Child brides, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and other forms of sexual and gender based violence.
We live in a world where conflict and violence continues to threaten the safety of our girls. Girls across all ages are confronted by situations where their future is threatened, where societal gender norms have limited their opportunity for education and economic empowerment.
This years theme Empower Girls: Before, During and After Conflict compels us to do more address issues that expose our girls to violence and conflict. It compels us to work harder to keep our girls protected. It compels us to put in place policies that offer holistic protection, and dismantles barriers to self-affirmation and advancement of our girls; where every girl can aspire to fulfil her true potential.
We need a world that is safer and more open to equal opportunities for our girls and women. We need to unlock the potential of girls, to raise girls that are bolder, better educated and ready to give their best to our world—in whatever capacity.
If we want peace, justice and stronger institutions, we need to harness the innate qualities of girls and young women to contribute to the message of peace and, we need to recognise the unique threats that insecurity and violence pose to girls and women. If we can do that, we can build a better world for all of us. Because girls potential, is global potential; girls’ progress is global progress.
I urge us to heed the call to protect our girls and help create a bright future for them.
Margaret Kenyatta,
FIRST LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA