Released 11/10/2025
Today is International Day of the Girl Child and an opportunity to highlight the valuable contributions of girls in our society and the need to listen to their perspectives and respond with policies and initiatives that strengthen their rights.
Minister for Women, Dr. Marisa Paterson MLA, thanked girls and young women in the ACT for their inspiring leadership and advocacy, which she said was resulting in real change in the community.
“Canberra is home to so many extraordinary girls who are politically engaged and campaigning on urgent issues that impact everyone in our society, including climate change, reconciliation, gender equality, social inclusion, and domestic, family and sexual violence,” Minister Paterson said.
Minister Paterson pointed to the impressive achievements of young women in Canberra who started their activism careers while still in school, including:
- Anjali Sharma, who was a catalyst for national climate change protests across Australia at the age of 14, and who now leads a team of young women in Canberra advocating for the Duty of Care Bill, developing their capacity as climate activists in the ACT.
- Amelia Tattam, whose work with a team of dedicated young women on a campaign to end period poverty contributed to expanded free access to period products in ACT schools and other community locations through the Free Period Products Act.
- African Australian Council Youth Coordinator and 2024 Young Canberra Citizen of the Year, Vando Celestina Emmy Rabi, whose advocacy promotes inclusivity and fosters a greater understanding of the experiences and contributions of African Australians.
Minister Paterson acknowledged that girls in the ACT and Australia-wide faced significant challenges in their daily lives and reaffirmed the ACT Government’s commitment to gender equality.
“The ACT Government is working hard to improve gender equality and prevent and respond to domestic, family and sexual violence in our community. We’re investing in frontline services, raising awareness of our affirmative consent laws, and working closely with stakeholders as we prepare to criminalise coercive control as a standalone offence in 2026,” Minister Paterson said.
The ACT Government has introduced several programs and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of girls and women, including:
- Providing free period products in a range of community locations.
- Delivering the Understanding Building and Construction/Try-a-Trade Program.
- Implementing Gender Sensitive Urban Design Principles in the design of new public centres.
- Establishing a Gender Equality Initiative in Schools team.
- Establishing training to assist educators to use the Early Years Learning Framework for respectful relationships and gender diversity.
The ACT Women’s Plan 2016-26 sets out the ACT Government’s ongoing commitment towards gender equality. The second annual report on the Third Action Plan 2023-26 was released in March 2025, reporting 6 actions completed and 24 actions underway as of December 2024. The next ACT Women’s Plan is due to be launched in 2027.
Quote attributable to Ms. Anjali Sharma, climate activist and 2025 ACT Young Woman of the Year:
“It is no secret that many of the crises facing our world are gendered, having a disproportionate impact on girls and women and only serving to further exacerbate an already significant gender-based disadvantage. But it is also no secret that when girls are empowered to be advocates, innovators, leaders and creators, that we as a society are best equipped to face these crises. This International Day of the Girl, we must look at the societal barriers that we create and accept that stop girls from reaching their full potential, and reaffirm our commitment to bringing them down.”
Quotes attributable to Ms. Amelia Tattam, Period Poverty Campaigner:
“Empowering girls and listening to their voices is essential for building a better society for everyone. Girls have ideas, courage, passion, and perspectives that I think are too often overlooked. When we give girls the support, resources, and respect they deserve, we’re creating stronger communities, fairer opportunities, and a future where everyone benefits. Every girl has the power to lead, innovate, and inspire - it is so important that these girls are heard.”
“Drawing from my own experience, I can say that this project has been a testament to the power of advocacy, empowerment, and giving girls a space where they can be seen and heard. What started as a group pitch by six high school girls has now been made ACT law, because we saw a problem, spoke up, and didn’t stop pushing for change. We didn’t just highlight a problem - we proposed a solution, collected data, consulted with the community, and worked directly with decision-makers to ensure our voices were heard.”
Quote attributable to Ms. Vando Celestina Emmy Rabi, African Australian Council Youth Coordinator and 2024 Young Canberra Citizen of the Year:
“The International Day of the Girl Child is a powerful reminder that when girls are empowered to speak, lead, and shape policy, entire communities thrive. Growing up, I saw first-hand how important it is for young women - especially those from underrepresented backgrounds - to have spaces where their voices are heard and their stories valued. My own journey in advocacy began with small acts of courage, which led to greater opportunities to stand up for others. Today, I continue that work to ensure the next generation of girls can rise without limits. We need policies that don’t just protect girls, but actively uplift them and make space for their leadership.”
- Statement ends -
Marisa Paterson, MLA | Media Releases