Addressing The Issues Facing Women and Girls on the World Stage

We've just learned about an amazing organization that is working to highlight the issues facing women and girls worldwide, but they're doing it in a very different way: by mirroring the structure of the G20 Summit and addressing economic factors (such as economic freedom, health, education, issues facing adolescent girls, and gender equality, poverty and economic growth) that can raise up women and girls around the world. The Girls20Summit had its first meeting in Toronto last year (the site of last year's G20 Summit) and is meeting again in Paris this fall (in the same country as this year's G20 Summit). It brings together 20 young women from around the world "to encourage G8 and G20 leaders to elevate the importance of political empowerment and economic freedom for girls and women in developed and developing nations."

"The Girls20 Summit is modeled after the G20 Summit and will convene one girl from each G20 country plus one girl from the African Union chair country (Equatorial Guinea). Delegates will come together two weeks before the G20 Leaders to discuss, debate and design innovative ideas." One young woman will be chosen from applicants to represent each of the following G20 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, the USA, a representative of the European Union, and a representative from the African Union Chair country, Equatorial Guinea.

If you know a young woman 18-20 years old interested in working with this organization, she can apply online to become a Girls20Summit Delegate. Applications are due April 15th, and the Girls20Summit will be held in Paris, October 18 - 21, 2011.

This organization has some heavyweight powers supporting it including Melinda Gates, the Clinton Foundation, the NIKE Foundation, the World Bank, and Goldman Sachs.

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