Before the G-20 Summit, a Girls 20 Summit in Toronto

23 June 2010

Delegates of the G(irls) 20 Summit

This is the VOA Special English Education Report.

Leaders of the world's twenty largest economies will meet this Saturday and Sunday in Toronto, Canada. The Group of 20 will discuss the best ways to guide the world economy to a stronger recovery. The G-20 is nineteen countries and the European Union.

Last week, in Toronto, international charities held the first-ever Girls 20 Summit. The goal was to bring the economic power of girls and women, and the importance of women's issues, to the attention of G-20 leaders.

Organizers invited twenty young women from each of the G-20 member countries. They discussed the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and better ways to meet them. The goals include cutting poverty, improving access to health care and providing education to all children.

Nineteen-year-old Anwar Basunbul from Saudi Arabia said many Saudi women are interested in working. But they need permission from their husband or other male guardian. And there are restrictions on the professions they can join.

ANWAR BASUNBUL: "Our culture still believes that men are biologically more qualified to lead or rule women."

She says the Saudi leadership has not failed women; Saudi women have not yet asked for what they want.

ANWAR BASUNBUL: "I believe women are not confident enough in my country to speak up. So I believe no one is going to come and give you the chance as a guest. You have to go and ask for it."