World Savvy Monitor

The United Nations sets aside special consideration for the Girl Child within the larger context of women in the world.  

Female children face significant disadvantages in societies with great gender inequality, initiating a cycle of women’s disempowerment that is difficult to escape.  At issue are abrogations of basic universal human rights as well as gender-specific abuses.  As is usually the case, most issues around this topic stem from poverty.  Growing attention is being focused on leveling the playing field for young girls and boys, protecting girls from predation, and providing affirmative action to redress entrenched discrimination in societies.  The goal is to help today’s generation of girl children, and create a positive influence for generations to come.  

In addition to the UN, the World Bank is focusing on this issue with its Adolescent Girls Initiative that seeks to help girls age 16-24 finish school and transition to employment.  

In this section:

• Disadvantaged at Birth – Son Preference and Missing Girls
• Inequality in Critical Years
• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
• Sexual Predation
• Body Image Issues
• The Girl Child in the Developed World

 Next: The Girl Child:  Disadvantaged at Birth - Son Preference and Missing Girls