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The "new" manager of the UNESCO Office in Peru (Maria Alejandra), the Culture and Science Coordinator (Maricarmen) and the Education and Communication & Information  Coordinator (Satomy) presented their priorities and initiatives: Spotlight on tackling inequity and violence, two issues that directly concern them. This activity was part of 's "Girls to Power" campaign.

"The International Day of the Girl is an opportunity to think about the challenges in achieving , with a special focus on Education and Gender Equality" emphasized Maria Alejandra (15), a teenage girl from the Piura region who assumed the role of UNESCO Representative in Peru for a day. 

Worldwide, progress on achieving the SDGs has been uneven and, in some cases, regressive. According to UN (United Nations) data, only 12% of the SDG targets are on track to be achieved by 2030, while almost half are moderately or severely lagging. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated vulnerability and humanitarian crises for more than 630 million girls and adolescents worldwide. 

It is alarming that 1.6 billion students in more than 190 countries have been affected by school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the return to school, UNESCO estimates that around 24 million children, including more than 11 million, are at risk of dropping out of school.

This figure risks decades of progress towards gender equality and exposes girls to risks such as teenage pregnancy, early and forced marriages, and violence. For many girls, school is more than a window to a better future; it is their lifeline.

This information, as well as "the need to have access to quality education that allows girls and adolescents to manage their life projects with information and support to approach gender inequalities and education on sexuality issues", was brought to the dialogue by Satomy (15), an adolescent from the Lima region, in her role as UNESCO Peru Education and Communication and Information Sector Coordinator.

Gender equality is a global priority for UNESCO. Worldwide, 122 million girls and 128 million boys lack access to education. Women represent almost two-thirds of non-literate adults. UNESCO encourages focusing on gender equality in all aspects of the education system, including access, content, context, teaching and learning practices, learning outcomes, and life and work opportunities.

In Peru, gender equality is challenged by violence against girls and adolescents. According to statistics from the Women's Emergency Centers, during the period from January to December 2022, alarming numbers were recorded. 72.61% of the 27,362 reported cases of sexual assault affected persons from 0 to 17 years old, which represented an increase of 3% compared to the previous year. In fact, 93% of these victims were girls and adolescents. 

From the intersectoral nature of discrimination and violence experienced by rural and indigenous girls, Maricarmen (15), an indigenous student from Cusco, highlighted "the importance of empowering an intercultural education that respects and promotes the knowledge and identity of indigenous girls and adolescents. This is to speak the native languages with pride, without this being a source of discrimination".

Maricarmen, in her role as Culture and Science Sector Coordinator, highlighted the relevance of a technical formative education such as the one she has in her school located in the district of Acomayo, thanks to UNESCO Peru's Horizons Program.

As part of the commemorative actions for the International Day of the Girl Child, celebrated on October 11, teenagers Maria Alejandra, Maricarmen and Satomy, "took power" of the UNESCO Office in Peru as a symbolic act to reflect on the problems that affect them and empower girls and adolescents in the country.

With a clear vision of what they need, the three new representatives from different parts of the country worked with specialists from the Culture, Education, Communication and Science sectors to establish key strategies for the country.

This initiative is part of Plan International's annual campaign, "Girls Take Power", which involves more than 1,000 power takeovers across 70 countries.

The campaign has the objective of highlighting and confronting discrimination, bullying and inequalities that girls and adolescents face, and was supported by the UNESCO Representative in Peru, Guiomar Alonso Cano and her team of coordinators and specialists.

The International Day of the Girl Child is a reminder of the need to empower girls and enable them to lead the change in their struggle for gender equality and education. The actions of Maria Alejandra, Maricarmen and Satomy at UNESCO are an inspiring example of how teenage girls can take the lead, show their leadership and propose their views and proposals to inspire us to work towards a more equal and fair country for girls and young women.