Youth with a vision: #She is equal
UNO New York, 25 September 2018
Address by Her Majesty the Queen of Belgium
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear friends,
Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to open this event. It is a real pleasure for me to see so many young people here to discuss the topic ‘She is equal’.
Look around you. Is there any reason to think that the girls here are not just as intelligent, just as competent, just as motivated, just as ambitious as the boys?
Of course not!
And yet, during my field visits, in my capacity as a UN SDG Special Advocate - even at home in Belgium - I am aware that girls are often less valued than boys. But the truth is that men and women are complementary. Families, communities, countries need both boys and girls in equal measure, enjoying equal opportunities.
It is a disturbing fact that, worldwide, girls spend less time in school than boys. And not usually of their own choosing. In some countries, access to schools is still problematic for girls. Later that translates into less good economic opportunities and possibly poverty.
Lack of education and economic empowerment also makes girls more vulnerable to early marriage, early pregnancy and all the health risks that that brings with it. They might be denied access to healthcare too. And they’re more likely to suffer sexual and domestic violence, with the consequent physical and mental trauma.
Nor should those of us who have been privileged to have a good education be complacent. There is still the infamous glass ceiling.
But don’t make the mistake of thinking that, because girls are more vulnerable, they are weak! Believe me, they’re strong - and they know what they want. Given equal opportunities to a decent education and paid employment girls grow up to contribute, both economically and intellectually, to their families and society. In fact, everyone benefits.
To achieve true equality, we need vision. We need to work together. Women must aim high and work hard to get there. But men need to work alongside them to help bring about the necessary changes. Dialogue, like today’s event, is an important part of this. Boys and girls need to talk to each other about the challenges they face. After all, boys have their own issues, their own pressures and anxieties. We should recognise that too. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is a key reference in this endeavour. It makes no distinction between boys and girls.
I’m looking forward to hearing your views now. There are many topics to discuss, and unfortunately our time here today is limited. But I encourage you all to keep the discussion going, not just today, not just with the other participants, but after today, in the wider world as well.
Good luck!