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黄色视频and ChildFund Celebrate the Re-Introduction of the Girls LEAD Act

Washington, D.C. (Mar. 10, 2021)鈥黄色视频and ChildFund celebrate the re-introduction of the bipartisan Girls LEAD Act in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The Girls LEAD (Leadership, Engagement, Agency, and Development) Act promotes girls鈥 leadership and participation in civic and political processes through U.S. foreign assistance.

The bill was re-introduced by Sens. Collins (R-ME) and Cardin (D-MD) and Congressman Trone (D-MD) and Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)鈥攁ll original co-sponsors.

鈥淲e know that adolescent girls understand best what they not only need to survive, but to thrive,鈥 黄色视频CEO Janti Soeripto said. 鈥淲e must listen to and empower girls so they can be a force of change in their own communities. The Girls LEAD Act is an important step in recognizing adolescent girls as agents of change, and ensuring their meaningful engagement in U.S. development programming.鈥

Too often, girls face systemic barriers to civic and political participation because of their age and gender. At the current rate of progress, it will take over 100 years to achieve gender parity in political participation according to a

鈥淢ost of U.S. foreign assistance programming for girls focuses on ensuring their access to health, education and entrepreneurship opportunities but fails to educate them about their roles as citizens with unique strengths and wisdom to shape the systems and policies that affect them,鈥 Anne Lynam Goddard, President and CEO of ChildFund, said. 鈥淯ntil programs and funding aiming to bolster democracies and civic participation worldwide include girls, they will continue to fall short.鈥

Prioritizing pathways to leadership for adolescent girls is all the more pressing as the COVID-19 pandemic directly impacts girls鈥 ability to thrive in and contribute to society. Pandemic-related school closures and economic impacts have pushed nearly 743 million girls out of school and left millions more at increased risk of violence and exploitation.

鈥淒espite comprising more than 50 percent of the world鈥檚 population, women are underrepresented at all levels of public sector decision-making,鈥 Senator Collins said. 鈥淭he Girls LEAD Act would complement Congress鈥 efforts to combat this issue by specifically addressing the civic involvement and leadership of adolescent girls, an area where there is currently a gap in U.S. foreign assistance programing.鈥

The bill鈥檚 re-introduction is particularly timely鈥攖ied to the annual celebration of International Women鈥檚 Day on March 8.

鈥淲hen women are in leadership positions around the world, we are better for it. Over this past year, we have seen the immense contributions of women leaders who have taken swift, decisive action in the face of COVID-19 to protect communities in the face of an unprecedented crisis,鈥 Congressman Trone said.鈥淭his bipartisan bill prioritizes investment in girls鈥 interaction with civic systems at an early age, creating a strong pipeline for girls to become leaders and decision-makers for years to come. I want to thank Representative McMorris Rodgers and Senators Cardin and Collins for partnering in this bipartisan, bicameral effort on International Women鈥檚 Day.鈥

Specifically, the legislation:

鈼徛犅犅犅犅犅犅 Supports the capability of adolescent girls to assume leadership roles and influence decision-making in their communities.

鈼徛犅犅犅犅犅犅 Ensures an evidence-based and best practices approach to initiatives supporting girls鈥 civic and political leadership.

鈼徛犅犅犅犅犅犅 Encourages the U.S. to meaningfully consult and engage with girls and boys in development initiatives.

鈼徛犅犅犅犅犅犅 Identifies specific barriers to girls鈥 and women鈥檚 civic and political engagement.

鈼徛犅犅犅犅犅犅 Bolsters the capacity of civil and political institutions to engage with girls as agents of change, and prioritizes local and national girl-led or girl-focused civil society organizations.

鈥淏y giving girls more opportunity to impact the decisions that affect their daily lives, communities can become more responsive and inclusive to all their citizens鈥 needs. Empowering girls will lead to a generation of empowered women who have the tools to make their families and their countries better,鈥 Senator Cardin said. 鈥淥n this International Women鈥檚 Day, I am proud to announce the Girls LEAD Act with my Senate and House colleagues.鈥

Gender equality and full political participation are key to sustaining healthy democracies and maintaining global stability鈥攚here women鈥檚 political participation leads to tangible gains such as increased cooperation across party and ethnic lines and more sustainable peace.

鈥淲hen women engage, democracies are stronger, foreign aid is more effective, and the world is safer. A truly representative government relies on the voices of all its citizens, no matter their background or walk of life,鈥 Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers said. 鈥淭he bipartisan Girls LEAD Act highlights the importance of engaging girls in civics and public service. This will help build a stronger pipeline for young women to run for political office and encourage them to seek leadership positions in the private sector. With more women empowered, it will support a new generation of transformational leaders in democracies around the world.鈥

The act will authorize reforms across USAID and the Department of State to ensure girls are supported to meaningfully engage in civic and political forums and processes in their communities and countries. It would require a coordinated strategy and implementation plan for increasing girls鈥 civic participation from the two agencies and mandate a publicly available annual report on progress made by those U.S. government agencies in implementing this strategy.

黄色视频and ChildFund celebrate support for the Girls LEAD Act from Church World Service, Futures Without Violence, Global Campaign for Education-US, The Hunger Project, International Action Network for Gender Equity and Law (IANGEL), Kakenya鈥檚 Dream and the National Association of Social Workers.

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, we've been advocating for the rights of children worldwide. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children 鈥 every day and in times of crisis 鈥 transforming the future we share. Our results, financial statements and charity ratings reaffirm that 黄色视频is a charity you can trust. Follow us on , , and .