Because I am a girl report launch in Geneva
To highlight the UN Day of the Rights of the Child, Plan’s liaison and advocacy office in Geneva launched the annual report for the Because I am a Girl campaign and presented a photo exhibition.
The campaign was started in 2007, and this year’s report, was entitled “Because I am a girl: The State of the world girls 2011, So what about boys?” The first four reports focused on the different aspects of gender inequality faced by girls around the world. Many launches have taken place around the globe and so far this year over 3,000 people have attended.
The report
The 2011 report takes an unusual perspective on gender by looking in detail at the role of boys and men in promoting gender equality. It asks an often-neglected question when it comes to gender issues: what it is that they can do in order to promote gender equality?
Key messages
The report emphasizes 4 key messages:
1. Gender equality is good for boys too! Everyone benefits from a more just and gender-equal world.
2. Men and boys have an important and valuable role to play in advancing gender equality.
3. Negative or traditional views and stereotypes about gender still exist in the minds of adults and young people around the world and are harmful to both girls AND boys.
4. All of society – women, men, boys, girls, parents, families, schools, law and policymakers – must do a better job at challenging and changing traditional and harmful gender stereotypes and roles in order to conquer poverty and lack of opportunity faced by girls and boys.
The launch
The launch in Geneva was held at in a beautiful setting, kindly offered by the CAGI and the Canton of Geneva at the villa “La Pastorale” at the Centre d’Accueil Genève International. The event was attended by members of Permanent Missions, UN agencies and International Non-Governmental Organizations. The high level panel included the permanent representative of Uruguay and president of the Human Rights Council, her Excellency Ms Laura Dupuy Lassare, Mr. Andreas Herbst, Moderator, National Director of Plan Switzerland, Ms. Keshet Bashan, Because I am a Girl Report Coordinator, Ms. Nikki Van Der Gaag, Report Author, Mr. Jørgen Lorentzen, Senior Researcher at the University of Oslo, Center for Gender Research, and Ms. Alanna Armitage, Director, UNFPA, Office in Geneva. The presentations were followed by a lively and interesting discussion. The conclusion of which was that role of boys and men is essential if we are to achieve gender equality, a concept that it is essential to involve both at the United Nations and in the field.
A short video was presented; click here to view it online.
Photography by David O'Dwyer.
