Blog by Sarah Barnbrook, SI Club Melbourne, SISEAP
At the heart of the 69th Commission on the Status of Women, a powerful movement emerged—one driven by the voices, experiences, and relentless determination of adolescent girls. Hosted by UNICEF and Purposeful, the Power4Girls event was an electrifying call to action, reinforcing that girls are not only the future but are also shaping the present. UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Millie Bobby Brown took centre stage, alongside distinguished global leaders, to champion investment in girls and elevate their leadership.
The session commenced with a stark reminder of the barriers adolescent girls face globally—122 million girls are out of school, one in five girls is married during childhood, and gender-based violence continues to stifle opportunities. UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director underscored the harsh reality: despite 30 years of efforts, progress has been insufficient. The world has fallen short of its promise to adolescent girls. However, the Power4Girls initiative stands as a beacon of hope, designed to drive tangible change through investment, education, and direct support to girls leading change in their communities.
Millie Bobby Brown’s words resonated deeply. She shared her personal experience of growing up as a girl and her unwavering commitment to ensuring that no girl is denied opportunities due to her gender. “Girls are not statistics; they are human beings with dreams, ambitions, and immense potential,” she declared. Through her impassioned speech, she introduced the world to girls like Arasta from Tanzania, whose resilience and determination proved that, when given the right support, girls can transform their futures and uplift their communities.
A key message throughout the event was that adolescent girls are not waiting to be empowered—they are already leading, organising, and demanding change. Bianca, a UNICEF Global Girl Leaders Advisory Group member, challenged decision-makers to go beyond performative gestures. “It’s not enough to invite just one girl to a meeting, take a photo, and call it engagement. This is tokenism, and it must stop.” Her call for genuine participation and accountability echoed throughout the room.
The session featured government representatives from Sierra Leone, Nepal, the United Kingdom, and Canada, who shared their commitments to investing in adolescent girls. Chernoh Bah, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Civic Education emphasised how prioritising girls’ education has been central to national progress. The UK’s Special Envoy for Women and Girls, Baroness Harriet Harman, reinforced that investing in girls yields intergenerational benefits, and Canada’s Ambassador to the UN, Bob Rae, passionately asserted that the cause of young girls should be a unifying force for all.
An especially moving moment came from Ming Huang, an adolescent girl leader from Cambodia, who shared how she defied societal norms to pursue a career in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). “When girls come together, we shift social norms, challenge outdated beliefs, and pave the way for the next generation,” she said. Her story highlighted the power of collective action in dismantling barriers for girls in male-dominated fields.
As the event drew to a close, Purposeful Co-CEO Rosa Branski and young feminist activist Melvina from Sierra Leone issued a final, urgent call to action. “Girls are not waiting for permission to change the systems that oppress them. They are already organising. What they need is for the rest of us to catch up.” Their words underscored the need for concrete investment, not just in programs for girls but in the leadership of girls themselves.
Power4Girls is more than an initiative—it is a movement. It is a declaration that the world can no longer afford to overlook adolescent girls. Investing in them is not just a moral obligation but an economic and social imperative. As the session ended, attendees were urged to amplify the message, take action, and ensure that every girl, everywhere, has the power to write her own future.
The time for change is now. The time for action is now. The voices of girls must not only be heard but actively shape the world we build together.