Finale in New Orleans on Justice for Girls — Mini-Series #6
The parallel panel event that occurred during CSW70, the 2026 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, which we have been covering, began and ended with song.
The event was entitled:
GIRLS VOICES: WITHOUT US, NO JUSTICE
It was sponsored by The Grail (1) and United for Equity and Ending Racism (UFER) (2)
At the beginning of the event, everyone sang:
Here is a video with the voices of the panelists and audience (including mine) as we sang:
“This Little Light of Mine”
First Two Lines of the Lyrics:
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
In between the introductory song and the closing song, there were six panelists.
I had the privilege of being entrusted with copies of five of the six panelists talks, four of which I have already covered in this mini-series.
The girls were 15, 16, and 17 year-olds hailing from the U.S., Mexico, Mozambique, and Portugal. Fifteen-year old Bella from Paraguay also spoke, although I do not have a copy of her talk.
Presenting now is the final panelist who closed the event with her perspective from the USA.
Teen co-moderator Quinn introduces teen panelist:
Our last speaker is Piper.
Piper is a 17-year old and from New Orleans, Louisiana, USA where she is in 11th grade at [a Catholic high school].
Piper is passionate about social justice and finding solutions on gender inequality such as period poverty because of the stigma experienced by girls globally.
She loves discussing how we as women can work to help our world through conversation and community. During a recent school trip to Washington, D.C., she explored her passion for conversation. Piper spoke to many different people about the issues of reproductive freedom and gender bias in government.
Gaining different perspectives and engaging in civil discourse ignited her passion to learn more about the needs of girls today and how to help future generations of girls and women speak out and succeed.
Piper, you have the floor!
Piper
1. What does access to justice mean to you?
Justice to me is not necessarily a balancing of scales or retribution, but a dedication to always promote the well being of others and a commitment to preserve their natural rights. All people having access to justice is especially important to me because I firmly believe that everyone should have their due, and have a system of support to receive it if they cannot access it themselves.
2. What are some of the structural barriers in your community that prevent girls from seeking justice?
Some structural barriers in my community that prevent girls from seeking justice are the belief that girls should not be involved in certain conversations. As a teenage girl myself, I’ve been told that I don’t understand what’s happening, or that my voice doesn’t mean as much as others, but I think that my voice means just as much, especially when speaking out for my own justice or others.
3. What part of the justice system feels difficult for girls?
Personally, I think speaking out, whether that be in a court under oath, or just speaking about experiences to others. I think that many tend to not believe women, especially young girls, so their experience in the justice system is more difficult.
4. What changes do girls want to see in their community to feel safer and more equal?
Once again, personally, I would like to see more acceptance of girls taking charge, being believed, and speaking out against injustice, either personally or for others. It's not necessarily gender equality, while important, but age equality, and being able to safely speak out while being young is important to me and I feel would better the community.
5. What support do girls need to get justice quickly and fairly?
This may be an obvious answer, but having people listening and advocating for them. Having a system that knows the justice system can help girls feel more confident in advocating for their justice.
6. How can you better address those structural barriers and help to eliminate discriminatory laws?
I think protesting, whether peaceful or not, or simply addressing and calling out the injustice is a start towards change. Once it is widely acknowledged that the system needs reform, solutions can start to be made.
7. What girl-focused resources or organizations are there in your community? Have you participated in any of them? Has your participation in those organizations shaped your understanding of rights and justice?
There is one that I can think of, the Junior League of New Orleans. It is a group of women who promote their businesses and address issues of discrimination against women. I have been to a leadership summit hosted by them, and it helped me understand injustice in the workplace against women.
Closing remarks by the teen co-moderators,
Amelia and Quinn
Amelia:
Let’s give a round of applause for these powerful girls!
Thank you for your questions and contributions. This was an event led by girls, for everyone. We had speakers from Portugal, Paraguay*, Mozambique, Mexico, and the USA with different backgrounds, experiences, and stories.
But still, they are always compromised in each of their respective communities by being a girl.
Quinn:
We are here today to say that we are united, that our voices matter, and that we are breaking the cycle of inequality around the world.
TOGETHER! We thank everyone for attending our event and we hope that you leave this room feeling more empowered and inspired than before.
Thank you!
Amelia: In closing, we will sing
“Lead with Love”
We welcome you to join us.
The Panel presentations ended with everyone singing
this song that was written in 2016 by Melanie DeMore:
“Lead With Love”
This powerful walking song by vocal activist Melanie DeMore was written in November 2016 and has found a home at protest and worship services alike. The chorus can be learned quickly after a few repetitions and the verses are sung as call and echo dialogue between the leader and the group.
When asked about the inspiration for the piece, Melanie said, ‘I was inspired by the great movements that were started out of the love for their people, not out of the hatred of others.’”
—Music that Makes Community, St. Paul, MN
https://www.musicthatmakescommunity.org/lead_with_love
For the song lyrics and to see Melanie actually singing her piece, Lead With Love, click on the “Music That Makes Community” website above.
The Grail is an international movement of women founded in 1921 in Holland by a Jesuit priest and five Catholic lay women. Its mission is focused on social transformation, spiritual search, environmental sustainability, women's empowerment, and global solidarity.
The International Grail has been a registered non-governmental organization (NGO) at the United Nations since 1953, with Special Consultative status through ECOSOC since 1998. It works on issues such as the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), anti-racism, and sustainable development.
Headquartered at Granville in Loveland, Ohio, the Grail operates in roughly 22 countries, with a significant presence in the USA.
Grail in the USA: https://www.grail-us.org/
International Grail Movement: https://grailmovement.net/
2. United for Equity and Ending Racism (UFER) has worked to eliminate all forms of racism, xenophobia, discrimination and related intolerance since its founding in 1952.Through representation as a non-governmental organization (NGO) at the United Nations in New York and Geneva, UFER collaborates with other international actors to promote policies for racial equity at the global level, while condemning the transatlantic slave trade and colonial genocide of indigenous peoples as flagrant crimes against humanity.
UFER’s mission is to build a peaceful world free of all forms of racism, casteism, inequity and injustice where all members of one human race enjoy full health, dignity and well-being in a context of freedom, equality and justice protected by universal human rights principles.
UFER International: https://ufer.international/
IN YOUR OWN WORDS:
Previous Post: “Girls in Portugal: A Perspective on Justice for Girls - Mini-Series #5,” Written by Anne Andersson May 8, 2026
—Very interesting article. Thanks for sending. —Barbara
REMEMBERING THE EPSTEIN SURVIVORS!
WE HOPE AND PRAY
FOR
JUSTICE FOR THESE WOMEN
WHO WERE JUST GIRLS
WHEN THEY WERE ABUSED.
CURRENT NEWS IS BURYING THEIR STORY.
C:WED WISH LIST:
WE ASK FOR YOUR HELP
IF YOU ARE ABLE TO DO SO!
ALL ASSISTANCE, REGARDLESS OF AMOUNT, HELPS US KEEP UP WITH TECHNOLOGY SUBSCRIPTIONS!
Thank you for your support!
