Girl Up India Leadership Summit 2023 focusses on fostering gender equality and reproductive health

The day-long summit focused on key topics related to girls’ and youth leadership development such as sexual reproductive health

Over 850 youth leaders passionate about gender equality and fostering girl leadership across sectors for an inclusive future came together to participate in the first-ever “Girl Up India Leadership Summit: Future 2030” held in New Delhi. The young participants, passionate about making a gender-just future a reality, engaged in meaningful dialogues and discussions at the Leadership Summit, which is Girl Up’s marquee event hosted globally every year since 2012. The event was attended by UN Resident Coordinator in India Shombi Sharp and Bollywood actress Dia Mirza as the Guest of Honour, besides Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu, who delivered closing address.

Two pre-summit events have led to this Summit. Girl Up India is a girl-centered leadership development initiative with 700+ Clubs across 26 States and Union territories engaging over 25,000 young people in India. The day-long summit focused on key topics related to girls’ and youth leadership development such as sexual reproductive health, rights and justice, storytelling, entrepreneurship, mental health, gender-based violence, disability rights, and STEM for social goods.

The theme of the Girl Up India Leadership Summit 2023 was Future 2030. It fostered enriching, intergenerational conversations that aim to empower, educate, and activate the potential of young leaders.

“Our vision was to bring together thought leaders in the movement for gender equality through an innovative girl-driven program. Today is not a moment but our steadfast commitment to the movement for gender equality,” said Girl Up India Country Director, Aditi Arora.

The Summit was a day-long event designed to provide girls and youth with the tools, skills, and knowledge needed to become influential leaders in their communities and beyond.

Speaking at the event, Actor, Producer & UN Secretary General’s Advocate for SDGs, Mirza said, “It’s high time that we come together to break the barriers that hinder the growth and aspirations of 253 million adolescents in India. There’s a growing power in supporting each other out of hardships and let’s hold the door open so that other women can also pass through with us. It is important that we envision a future that includes girls’ leadership. I do believe in the power of empathy and I do believe that girls have infinite empathy, hence, together we can create a more peaceful, compassionate, and beautiful world.”

Greeting the audience, Sharp said, “Namaskar, mujhe Girl Up Summit mein aakar bohot khushi huyi. We are seeing that India is a leader in terms of women’s engagement within peacekeeping programs, artificial intelligence-related fields and even landing on the Moon with Chandrayaan-3. The United Nations in India is incredibly honored to continue our partnership with the government, civil society, and business community towards supporting the all-important issue of our time – gender inequality and tapping the incredible diversity of India’s greatest youth generation.”