Blog: Girls and Women

Every Earth Day, I’m reminded of the proverb, “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”

At 15, Malala is a leader. She shows us that leadership is about vision. It’s about values that endure, uncompromised. It’s about sacrifice and conviction, about the resolve to take risks and persevere.

For many adolescent girls and young brides, child marriage is perceived as a death sentence, given the scarring effects for the health, education, and life of girls.

This week, the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will bring together thousands of leaders from around the world who are working to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

No one deserves to be forced into marriage, let alone a little girl. This denies her of her childhood, limits her opportunities, and jeopardizes her health and safety.

10×10’s Girl Rising is a new feature film about the strength of the human spirit and the power of girls’ education. It spotlights the stories of extraordinary girls around the world, striving beyond circumstance and overcoming impossible odds to achieve their dreams.

Thursday, the House of Representatives passed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (S.47). This was not only a victory for women, but also girls around the world.

What’s Your Method? is a blog series that offers a window into many of the contraceptive options for women and girls around the world.

Along with her father, a longtime champion of girls’ education and newly-appointed to the UN’s Special Envoy on Global Education, Malala manages to see beyond the tragedy and is optimistic about her future and that of children everywhere.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies recently created a video featuring Malawi’s first female president, Joyce Banda, talking about the importance of women’s health and empowerment.