First-Ever Girls 20 Summit in Canada Ends

18 June 2010

Photo: Belinda Stronach Foundation

Delegates of the G(irls) 20 Summit

A group of young women from around the world has gathered this week in the city of Toronto, Canada. They are delegates to the first-ever

G(irls)20 Summit

, meeting in advance of the G-20 Economic Summit taking place later this month. They are meeting to discuss challenges facing girls and women across the globe.

The U.N. estimates that adolescent girls, that is, young women between the ages of 10 and 24-account for one-eighth of the world's population. Many of these girls not only work outside the home, but are the primary source of support for their families. Yet in the developing world, many of them don't enjoy the most basic human rights.

The Girls 20 Summit taking place this week in Toronto, Canada, invited 20 young women from each of the G-20 member countries to discuss the most pressing challenges facing women today. The summit is focusing on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals of ending poverty, improving access to health care, and providing universal primary school education. The girls are attending panel discussions related to each of these goals, and at the end of the summit, they will be asked to make recommendations on ways in which the Millennium goals can be better achieved.

Traditional attitudes