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| Priyanka Chopra: when girls are empowered, we all do better | Priyanka Chopra: when girls are empowered, we all do better |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Last month, I spent an evening with a group of amazing girls in Mumbai. They spoke with passion of their dreams, of developing the right skills to build a better future for themselves and their families, and of breaking a cycle of what nearly half of all girls in India have so far been unable to do – avoid marriage before the age of 18. | Last month, I spent an evening with a group of amazing girls in Mumbai. They spoke with passion of their dreams, of developing the right skills to build a better future for themselves and their families, and of breaking a cycle of what nearly half of all girls in India have so far been unable to do – avoid marriage before the age of 18. |
| These young teenagers, who were attending a programme to help build enterprise and networking skills, are testament to what has become abundantly clear: empowering and investing in girls and protecting them from harmful practices is the surest path to progress. | These young teenagers, who were attending a programme to help build enterprise and networking skills, are testament to what has become abundantly clear: empowering and investing in girls and protecting them from harmful practices is the surest path to progress. |
| Yet despite positive steps in India and elsewhere, millions of girls continue to be prevented from living empowered lives because of harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM). | Yet despite positive steps in India and elsewhere, millions of girls continue to be prevented from living empowered lives because of harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM). |
| Though the data is difficult to come by, it is estimated that more than 700 million women worldwide were married as children. More than 130 million girls and women have been cut in the 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East where FGM is concentrated. | Though the data is difficult to come by, it is estimated that more than 700 million women worldwide were married as children. More than 130 million girls and women have been cut in the 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East where FGM is concentrated. |
| These practices violate the fundamental rights of girls and women, and hold back social and economic development that would benefit children, communities and countries. Child marriage and FGM destroy childhoods, disrupt schooling, leave girls at higher risk of dying from pregnancy-related causes, and contribute to a cycle of poverty. | These practices violate the fundamental rights of girls and women, and hold back social and economic development that would benefit children, communities and countries. Child marriage and FGM destroy childhoods, disrupt schooling, leave girls at higher risk of dying from pregnancy-related causes, and contribute to a cycle of poverty. |
| The good news is that things are changing. In communities and families across Africa, south Asia, the Middle East and Europe, more and more people are saying no to child marriage and FGM. | The good news is that things are changing. In communities and families across Africa, south Asia, the Middle East and Europe, more and more people are saying no to child marriage and FGM. |
| The African Union this year launched a campaign to address child marriage through policies and legislation to help safeguard children. In London on Tuesday, the UK government is hosting the first Girl Summit to galvanise global support and local action to end child, early and forced marriage and FGM. | The African Union this year launched a campaign to address child marriage through policies and legislation to help safeguard children. In London on Tuesday, the UK government is hosting the first Girl Summit to galvanise global support and local action to end child, early and forced marriage and FGM. |
| The momentum is there. By coming together across borders and cultural and social divides, we can do away with these practices once and for all. That is why I am lending my voice to rally support and urge you and millions more to do the same. | The momentum is there. By coming together across borders and cultural and social divides, we can do away with these practices once and for all. That is why I am lending my voice to rally support and urge you and millions more to do the same. |
| The Girl Summit will bring together world leaders, including government representatives, international organisations, the private sector and girls themselves to broaden the movement and apply solutions that have been tried and tested. | The Girl Summit will bring together world leaders, including government representatives, international organisations, the private sector and girls themselves to broaden the movement and apply solutions that have been tried and tested. |
| Many of the solutions are found within communities and societies themselves. These community-led solutions should be shared, supported and spread to showcase that empowering girls also improves the lives of boys and men. | Many of the solutions are found within communities and societies themselves. These community-led solutions should be shared, supported and spread to showcase that empowering girls also improves the lives of boys and men. |
| Other efforts have shown that every girl and woman affected by these practices must have access to appropriate services: counselling, shelter, and healthcare. Governments must design and implement effective, properly funded policies and clear legislation to end these practices. Better data collection and sharing will help us target investment where most needed. And, as I witnessed for myself last month, young people are a powerful force for change. We need to listen and consult them. | Other efforts have shown that every girl and woman affected by these practices must have access to appropriate services: counselling, shelter, and healthcare. Governments must design and implement effective, properly funded policies and clear legislation to end these practices. Better data collection and sharing will help us target investment where most needed. And, as I witnessed for myself last month, young people are a powerful force for change. We need to listen and consult them. |
| Then there is perhaps the single most powerful tool: access to quality education for girls and boys. We know that education raises economic productivity, reduces poverty, lowers infant and maternal mortality and helps improve health. | Then there is perhaps the single most powerful tool: access to quality education for girls and boys. We know that education raises economic productivity, reduces poverty, lowers infant and maternal mortality and helps improve health. |
| In other words, as the girls in Mumbai reminded me of, investing in education and protecting the rights of all children – girls and boys – is the best investment in the future for all of us. | In other words, as the girls in Mumbai reminded me of, investing in education and protecting the rights of all children – girls and boys – is the best investment in the future for all of us. |
| Actor and singer Priyanka Chopra is a Unicef national ambassador for India• | |
| The headline of this article was amended on 22 July 2014 to more accurately reflect the content and tone of the article |