ICRW Data Cited in Statement to G20 Leaders
04 September 2013
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Evidence from the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) is cited in a communiqué to the Group of Twenty Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (G20) leaders, who will gather Sept. 5 and 6 in St. Petersburg, Russia for their annual meeting.
The statement comes from girls with the G(irls) 20 Summit, which brings together an 18- to 20-year-old delegate from each G20 country annually to debate, discuss and design innovative ideas to grow communities, countries and companies by empowering girls and women globally. Girls also present these ideas to G20 leaders. The latest summit was held in Moscow in June, in advance of this week’s G20.
This year, the youth are urging governments worldwide, led by G20 nations, to proactively improve economic opportunities for girls and women and to support female entrepreneurship, among other requests.
“In context of growth and stability, G20 leaders are encouraged to understand the economic prowess of girls and women in emerging sectors including the resource sector (mining, oil and gas), agriculture, trade and technology,” said Farah Mohamed, G(irls) 20 president and chief executive officer. “As they seek to provide a framework for partnership between the public and private sectors we also hope to see some concrete action on creating an environment which enables the growth of entrepreneurism.”
In the communiqué, G(irls) 20 called upon G20 leaders to address jobs, growth and investment as it relates to the world’s women and girls. The statement cited ICRW findings that identify three essential components to women’s – and their community’s – economic advancement: economic decision making, economic self-confidence and efficacy and access to economic resources.
“These factors can only come into play if girls and women are given freedom to reach their full individual and collective potential,” it said. “Too often, though, this potential is left untapped.”
G(irls) 20 participants also called on G20 leaders to focus on ending early forced marriage globally, a human rights violation that severely undermines young girls’ ability to grow into healthy, productive women.