On the occasion of the International Day of the Girl, Plan International launched a worldwide campaign “Equal Power Now”, standing with girls and calling on leaders and powerholders to uphold their fundamental rights to participate in politics.

According to new research by Plan International, girls and young women worldwide constantly feel excluded from politics. In fact, a global survey of 29,000 girls and women aged 15-24 from 29 countries, found that respondents face significant barriers when taking part in political activities and feel poorly represented by the politicians elected to serve them.

The report, called Equal Power Now: Girls, Young Women and Political Participation was released ahead of the International Day of the Girl, and found that a clear majority care significantly about politics, with 97% of those surveyed agreeing that participating in politics is important and 83% saying they have personally done so.

But despite this, girls and young women are frequently shut out of political processes because of both their age and gender, with one in three (31%) saying they do not feel politics is open to their engagement or participation, and nearly half (45%) of those surveyed think politicians in their country fail to understand their views.

In response, a group of young activists from around the world wrote a Youth Manifesto which calls on politicians and other leaders worldwide to support girls and young women to participate in politics.

This includes increasing civic education, creating more policies and strategies that facilitate the meaningful participation of girls in politics, and adopting a zero-tolerance approach to violence against female politicians and activists.

To celebrate the International Day of the Girl, 6 girls from Lebanon will be taking over diplomatic positions, redefining what it means to be political, and demanding to be seen as movement leaders, activists, changemakers, and politicians.

“When we express our opinions and know our rights, then we will have a new generation that will make a change and get what we want” – Jen, 23 years old.

They are determined to take their place in politics and decision-making. From local councils, in governments, and within foreign policy and policy-making, girls want their voices to be heard and they want access to formal decision-making.
Therefore, throughout October, girls and young women will spend a day in the place of ambassadors, heads of UN agencies, and decision-makers, which will put them in decision-making and leadership positions, and encourage powerholders to hear their views and gain their insights.

“With all the political momentum in the country, now more than ever, girls and young women need to raise their voices about their needs and interest in being in the political arena, and their calls need to be heard by powerholders and decision-makers in Lebanon. Plan International will always stand by girls and open up spaces for them to express themselves and raise their voices” – Safo Visha, Country Director of Plan International Lebanon.

The takeovers titled “Listen to Our Voice”, will be promoted and broadcasted on Plan International Lebanon’s social media platforms, following a digital campaign that falls under Plan’s Girls Get Equal campaign, calling for a world where girls in all their diversity are equally able to make decisions about their own lives and shape the world around them.