The She Leads delegation showed what true young women’s leadership looks like when they stepped onto the global stage at the 59th Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC59) in Geneva, Switzerland. From 23 June to 2 July, Batool from Jordan, Fatoumata from Mali, and Phenny and Pascaliah from Kenya represented their peers after months of preparation with their wider She Leads cohort. There was also direct involvement from those who couldn’t travel in person, such as Damaris from Kenya, whose voice was heard through a video message calling out the barriers that still keep many young women away from advocacy spaces like the HRC, and Medi from Ethiopia who delivered through video one of the six statements the She Leads team brought to Geneva.

Together, these young women tackled urgent global issues, from gender-based violence in conflict, to the rights of internally displaced people, climate change, poverty, and the barriers that continue to hold back women’s leadership.

“We’re not just showing up, we’re shifting the conversation.”

-Batool

Watch the video below to hear more about Batool’s experience and read her blog here.

A Network of Care

Behind every statement stood a strong support system. Whenever one of the delegates was about to speak, the whole team rallied around, sharing livestream links with the rest of their cohort peers, cheering each other on, and handling last-minute edits, timing checks, and simple acts of care like handing over water or a reassuring word. “I was anxious and scared… But the support system was amazing. I felt seen and heard,” Pascaliah shared. No one faced the spotlight alone.

Taking the Lead on Climate Action

These young leaders didn’t just speak, they led. At the side event “Our Future, Our Right: Girls, GC26, and Climate Action,” Phenny guided the conversation as moderator, with Batool and Pascaliah stepping up as panelists alongside the UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change and Human Rights, Elisa Morgera, and the former Chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and current President of Child Rights Connect, Mikiko Otani, who joined virtually. The session opened with remarks by Ambassador Christian Guillermet Fernández of Costa Rica and quickly became a full house, bringing together UN Member States, missions, UN agencies, youth-led and feminist organisations, and climate and child rights advocates. The discussion reinforced that under General Comment No. 26 (GC26), children have the legal right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, and that governments must put girls and young women at the centre of climate action.

Building Bridges Beyond Geneva

The She Leads delegates made the most of every opportunity to connect and influence. They had the opportunity to engage with stakeholders from different spheres of influence, including Member States, diplomats, civil society organisations, and UN experts. A highlight was meeting Haina Lu from the UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls. Batool stepped in to represent She Leads at a Youth Roundtable hosted by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights — using the chance to build networks with like-minded youth and prepare for the next HRC session. Later, Batool also sat down with Baroness Harriet Harman, the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls, to build bridges for future collaboration.

Meanwhile, Phenny spoke boldly at a high-level side event on the human rights imperative of phasing out fossil fuels. Sharing the panel with H.E. Amb. Doreen Debrum, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the UN, and  Climate Change Special Rapporteur, Elisa Morgera, she called for urgent action: “We are not asking for charity. We are demanding justice. As the world races to redesign its energy future, it must also redesign its commitment to equity. Girls and young women are not passive bystanders to climate change. We are witnesses, we are survivors, we are ready to be leaders. But to lead, we must be seen, we must be heard, we must be equipped. The energy transition must be a just transition — one that redistributes power, land, and opportunity.”

Celebrating Girls’ Leadership

In a memorable evening, the young women joined a photo exhibition and reception celebrating girls’ leadership at the UN in Geneva, with stories and images of past She Leads cohorts on display as living proof of why young women belong in decision-making spaces. Hosted by Plan International’s UN Liaison Office and opened by H.E.s the Ambassadors of Slovenia and Mexico, the evening was a chance to connect, celebrate and remind everyone that girls’ leadership is here to stay.

Together, the She Leads delegates proved that when young women and girls lead, they don’t just fill a seat, they open doors, shift power, and create change that reaches far beyond Geneva.

Acknowledgements

We warmly thank Terre des Hommes, Plan International Netherlands, Defence for Children International, and FEMNET for partnering with us on the She Leads programme. Special thanks also go to the chaperones and team members who supported the delegation at the Human Rights Council.

Categories: Youth empowerment Tags: Activism, Child protection in emergencies, Climate change activism, girls' leadership