Gumbonzvanda urged girls to participate in debates around United Nations Security Resolution 1325. “I grew up in Zimbabwe and missed out on three years of school during the civil war. Schools were closed. There was nowhere to go. For the past 10 years I have been working in crisis-affected areas of Africa and seen the impacts of war. 1325 is about people. It is about human beings living with dignity and security. It is about girls and women, men and boys taking responsibility.”

Protection is at the core of United Nations Security Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. Gumbonzvanda stressed that dignity and rights of girls must be protected in times of war and conflict. “War makes girls not girls. War makes girls sex workers, widows, and mothers carrying a child from rape. The World YWCA says no to impunity for crimes against girls and calls for zero tolerance of abuse on girls.”

The World YWCA applauds the idea of a panel at CSW focussed on girls claiming their right to live in a peaceful world. “Participation is part of the solution and part of peace-building. Yet youth are often displaced and disempowered”. Gumbonzvanda concluded, “So, girls, let’s be involved in these discussions. Demand and find ways to be there.”

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