Girls and adolescent women have a high potential to transform the world to a more sustainable and just one. They play an important role in breaking the cycle of poverty, both for themselves and for their families and communities, and promote the development of their countries. However, in Latin America and the Caribbean many of them face great obstacles every day to enforce their rights and are victims of various forms of discrimination and abuse.

Within the framework of the International Day of the Girl, it is essential to make visible the problems faced by millions of girls and adolescent women, especially under the current context of crisis suffered by several countries in the region as a result of conflicts and natural disasters. For this reason, this year Latin America and the Caribbean joins the campaign “Empowering girls: Before and after the crisis”, proposed by the United Nations.

In crisis contexts, girls and adolescent women make up the most vulnerable group, as they are mostly exposed to dangerous and criminal situations, such as the worst forms of child labor. Furthermore, according to UNESCO, girls living in conflict zones are twice as likely to drop out of school as boys, which compromises the possibility of accessing decent jobs and being financially independent in their adulthood.

Child labor perpetuates inequality and encourages discriminatory behavior towards girls and female adolescents. In this regard, due to the gender roles and stereotypes that exist, boys and girls perform different jobs, with women being the most disadvantaged.

According to the latest global estimates, although the majority of child labor is carried out by boys and male adolescents, it is girls and female adolescents who perform undervalued activities, such as domestic work and caring for people, which are hardly visible to the authorities.

In various cultures, female daughters are often discriminated against in favor of the male child. For example, it is the male child who is given priority or ease to go to school. Girls are reserved to help with household chores and caring for younger brothers and sisters or other relatives.

Along these lines, building a sustainable region implies empowering female girls and adolescents and ensuring gender equality. According to the International Labor Organization,  six of the nine goals to achieve gender equality (SDG 5 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development) are closely linked to Target 8.7  on ending child labor, as this will help to reduce the forms of violence, discrimination and insecurity with which they live.

In crisis contexts, it is also important to promote the participation of this group in the search for responses and interventions that prioritize the support and protection of girls and adolescent women.

Fighting for respect for the rights of women, especially minors, women, contributes to countries reducing their maternal and infant mortality rates and increasing the participation of women in the labor sector.

In this way, Latin America and the Caribbean will be able to face inequality, child labor, violence and discrimination to make way for a better and equitable future for all.