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Malala Yousafzai joined over 50 young women in New York City this week, calling on global leaders to listen to what girls want - a logical ask in the overall progression of humanity given girls and women make up just about half the population, right?
And yet their needs and vision for an equitable future are being seriously overlooked at the 'Summit of the Future', a gathering of world leaders in September hosted by the United Nations, where they're discussing peace, security, sustainable development, climate change, human rights and youth issues. According to numerous girl-centred organisations who started the movement, leaders haven't bothered to meaningfully listen to or even involve young women and girls in their talks, so how can anyone possibly know what's best for them?
"Even at the ripe old age of 27 - a former girl - I know better than to assume I understand best what girls want," Malala said at the rally, surrounded by young women wanting to be included in the discussions.
"Everywhere I go, girls are eager to share their vision for their futures. As adults, it is our job to listen, fund their work and follow their lead. It is not too late for world leaders to do right by girls. They can start by prioritising their demands in tomorrow's final Summit deliberations and by investing resources to match their words."
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In a follow-up social media post shared by the Malala Fund, some of the demands from What Girls Want include:
- funding girls' work and activism, plus giving them the resources to create change;
- ensuring girls have access to free, inclusive and quality education;
- protecting reproductive health and ensuring girls' rights to make decisions about their own bodies; and
- combatting climate change with sustainable policies.
There are 12 key areas where they'd like to see leaders step up and well, listen.
"Girls have told us what they want and deserve, and they know how to build a better future for everyone, if only world leaders would listen," a message on the movement's official website reads.
"Girls are at the forefront of bold social justice movements, and they deserve a future rooted in safety, dignity, joy, and the right to simply 'be girls'."
You can learn more about the movement at
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