Grassroot Soccer believes strongly in the importance of empowering adolescent girls to live healthier lives, and we are therefore proud to announce that we have become an official signatory of the Girl Declaration, a call to action urging global leaders to put adolescent girls at the heart of the post-2015 development agenda. The Girl Declaration contains goals, targets and guiding principles for including girls. It was created based on consultations with more than 500 adolescent girls living in poverty around the world and more than 25 of the worldās leading development organizations and issue experts.
A broad, historic coalition has now come together to support the Girl Declaration. From Microsoft to Malala, USAID to Unilever, from Save the Children to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, from Nike to Oprah Winfrey, more than 100 individuals, companies, multilateral and aid organizations and NGOs have come together to sign the Girl Declaration. Grassroot Soccer is one of more than 100 signatories.
The Girl Declaration recommends five practical goals with measurable targets. Adolescent girls should:
- reach adulthood with relevant skills and knowledge to fully participate in economic, social and cultural life
- have access to health and nutrition information and services
- be free from violence and exploitation
- know how to build and protect their economic assets; and
- have equal access to services, opportunities, legal rights and personal freedom
The Girl Declaration was developed through a collaborative global process that included consultations with more than 500 adolescent girls living in poverty and more than 25 leading development organizations.
Grassroot Soccerās work with girls focuses on ages 13-18. What happens to girls during these critical adolescent years can have a profound impact on their lives and our world. We want girls to reach adulthood with skills, knowledge and resources. Adolescent girls are key to every sustainable solution, and the key to ending poverty before it starts. This is the girl effect.
To see the full list of official signatories, go to: http://www.girleffect.org/the-girl-effect-in-action/girl-declaration/ and scroll down to āA World Uniting Behind Girlsā.
What Can You Do?
We can all help by letting girls be heard. By letting their concerns guide our efforts beyond 2015. By supporting, translating and sharing the Girl Declaration. By lobbying passionately at a national or regional level for the adoption of the goals and targets in the Girl Declaration. By going to http://www.girleffect.org/2015-beyond/the-declaration/ and pledging support for the Girl Declaration.