Girls’ Voices on Justice-Mini-Series #2
“Girls’ Voices: Without Us, No Justice”
Since March 2012 (with the exception of the four pandemic years of 2020-2023, I have had the privilege of bringing a group of teen girls to the United Nations in New York City to participate in the UN Commission on the Status of Weomen (CSW),
The girls are members of their Catholic high school’s chapter of the WYA Club, of which I have been a co-moderator for all these years.
WYA is a worldwide organization devoted to the dignity of the human being.
www,wya.org
The girls who join a club like this are serious-minded students who care about humanity and the Earth.
Over the years we have partnered with the Grail, and have been assisted by Mary Kay Louchart, in providing the girls and co-moderators with passes to the UN side events during CSW.
Mary Kay has sometimes offered the one of our girls a place on the Grail’s parallel event panel. This year in March 2026, Mary Kay offered two of our girls (who have also been students in my religion class during their ninth-grade year) the wonderful opportunity of serving on the Grail Panel: Girls’ Voices: Without Us, No Justice.
Their service comes with a poignant twist for them, and for me as well: their Catholic high school is closing in June after 120+ years in existence—the sad way of Catholic schools in the US these days.
This post, and several to follow in C:WED’s second anniversary mini-series, will highlight the talks of five of the girl who were panelists and also the two co-moderators.
United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70)
This CSW parallel event was sponsored by the Grail and UFER, which are both non-governmental organizations (NGOs), both with the special status of ECOSOC standing,
The panel was set up to address the priority theme of CSW70:
Priority theme: Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers.
The panel addressed the theme from the perspective of a diverse group of girls.
For historical background and context on the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and on its overseer agency UN Women, please check out our Second Anniversary post of April 11, 2026:
“Girls’ Voices: Without Us, No Justice”
https://cwed.org/blog/girls-on-fire
The panel consisted of eight teens: six panelists and two co-moderators.
This post begins with the introductions by the two moderators, Amelia and Quinn.
Some panelists’ views will follow in a few subsequent posts.
Enjoy!
Solidarity
[The panel began the event by leading in song with:
“This Little Light of Mine.”
The audience joyously joined in!
“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine….
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.]
AMELIA:
Thanks to all who had the courage to sing with us.
Now, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the girls who should be here today, but cannot be with us due to systemic barriers, conflict, or lack of access. We stand in solidarity with them and reaffirm our commitment to making spaces like this that are inclusive, accessible, and safe for all.
QUINN:
This event is co-sponored by The Grail and UFER. The Grail is an international Women’s Movement which began in the Netherlands 100 years ago and spread to 22 countries in Africa, Oceania, Asia-Pacific, the Americas, and Europe.
Called by its spiritual values, The Grail envisions a world of peace, justice, and renewal of the earth brought about through education and action, with girls and women working together as changemakers.
AMELIA:
The Grail has been involved in the United Nations since the 1950s. the 51st CSW session in 2007 was the first time that The Grail started to bring girls from all over the world to attend the CSW and has continued to do so throughout the years.
It was an exciting moment as girls got involved in events which allowed them to have the space to stand and speak out rather than having Grail women speak for and about them:
Nowadays, we get to hear the voices of girls speaking up for themselves.
Within the past few years, The Grail asks girls to develop Back Home projects so that what they experienced wasn’t just a two-week adventure at CSW, but something that they carried into their lives.
We’ve now seen 19 years of amazing work done by amaz'ng girls.
INTRODUCTION
AMELIA:
Access to justice is a fundamental human right and an essential part of achieving gender equality.
Yet for many girls around the world, justice remains difficult to reach. Even where laws exist to protect girls’ rights, many girls still face barriers when they try to seek justice.
Some fear they will not be taken seriously. Others simply do not know where to turn for help. As a result, many girls grow up feeling that justice systems are not designed with them in mind.
But there is another important truth.
Girls are not just facing these challenges—they are also leading change.
Around the world, girls are speaking out, organizing in their communities, and advocating for systems that are more fair, inclusive, and responsive to their realities.
QUINN:
Girls are not only beneficiaries of rights. They are rights-holders.
And they are powerful agents of change.
They want systems they can trust.
They want access to information about their rights.
They want safe and confidential ways to report abuse.
They want legal support that is accessible and affordable.
And they want to see more women and girls represented in leadership and decision-making.
Girls also remind us that justice is not only about changing laws.
It is also about changing attitudes, norms, and expectations within our communities.
Girls’ rights, voices, actions, talents, and dreams are the foundation of the world we all want and deserve.
AMELIA:
Today’s event is entitled Girls’ Voices: Without Us, No Justice.
Our panel brings together six remarkable girls from diverse cultural, social, economic, and political contexts.
In just a moment, we will introduce them.
Each of them brings unique perspecitves and experiences from their communities and countries.
They will share what justice means to them, the barriers girls face when seeking it, and the changes they believe are necessary to create systems that truly work for girls.
QUINN:
During this event, our girl speakers will reflect on the progress that has been made, but also on the gaps and challenges that remain.
They will speak about issues such as:
gender equality,
safety,
violence against girls,
education,
health,
and
the role that digital technology plays in their lives today.
Most importantly, they will share their own voices and visions for change—because meaningful justice cannot exist without listening to the people most affected.
Today is about creating space for girls’ perspectives, recognizing their leadership, and learning from their experiences.
And as the title of our event reminds us: without girls, there is no justice.
In Your Own Words:
Previous Post: “Girls’ Voices: Without Us, No Justice” Written by Anne Andersson, April 11, 2026
— Loved your blog & happy anniversary! Two years is remarkable!!👏👏 —LC
—-Dear Anne, The more I read in your Posts the more I learn who you are! Such a remarkable woman of many facets. Thank you for keeping me on your list as I'm learning so much. Blessings of the Easter Peace to you and Eleanor.—Maryanne
Prayers Needed!
Consider and pray for our world today.
While world events are extremely serious, they do also cause media distraction.
Recall the girls who are the survivors of the Epstein human trafficking ring.
Pray for them and for the perpetrators.
Pray for JUSTICE.
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