The Working Group on Girls focused on institutionalizing girls' rights at the UN. It worked with the CEDAW, DPI, SG's campaign against violence, and CSW. It strengthened relationships with these entities, held conferences, and created task forces. The group advocated for girls, held parallel events, and ensured girls' participation. It gained measures to protect girls in emergencies, ensure their rights to education and health, support HIV-affected girls, eliminate discrimination, prevent violence, and maintain gender funding. The WGG also held a dialog on early marriage and elected new officers.

1. Working Group on Girls
Annual Report to NGO Committee on UNICEF
2008-2009

2. During the past year, the
Working Group on Girls
has focused its effort on
institutionalizing girls’
rights throughout the
United Nations system.

3. To that end it has worked very
deliberately with selected UN
mechanisms including the
• Committee on CEDAW
• Department of Public Information
• Secretary-General’s Campaign to End Violence
against Women and the
• ECOSOC Commission on the Status of Women
• while continuing to work with the Gender and
Human Rights Division of UNICEF

4. The WGG took the following actions
to strengthen its relationship with UN
entities, academic institutions and
media outlets during 2008-2009:

5. Committee on CEDAW
July 2008

6. UNICEF
We continued to
work with UNICEF,
particularly the
gender unit.

7. Department of
Public Information
Mid-day workshop at
DPINGO Conference
Caucus on women and girls

8. Academia
Women’s Studies
Conference
at
Southern Connecticut State
University

9. Academia
Women’s Studies
Conference
at
Southern Connecticut State
University

10. Academia
Women’s Studies
Conference
at
Southern Connecticut State
University

11. SG’s
Campaign to
End Violence
Task Force to Protect Girls
from Violence

12. SG’s
Campaign to
End Violence
Task Force to Protect Girls
from Violence

13. SG’s
Campaign to
End Violence
Task Force to Protect Girls
from Violence

14. SG’s
Campaign to
End Violence
Task Force to Protect Girls
from Violence

15. Commission on the
Status of Women
Follow-up to CSW 51

16. Commission on the
Status of Women
Follow-up to CSW 51

17. Commission on the
Status of Women
Follow-up to CSW 51

18. Commission on the
Status of Women
Follow-up to CSW 51

19. CSW 53
“Equal sharing of
responsibilities
between women
and men,
including
caregiving in the
context of HIV/
AIDS.”

20. Research & Writing

21. Research & Writing

22. Research & Writing
Discussion Paper for
Expert Group Meeting

23. Research & Writing
Discussion Paper for
Expert Group Meeting
Written Statement for CSW

24. Advocacy for Girls

25. Advocacy for Girls

26. Advocacy for Girls

27. Advocacy for Girls

28. Advocacy for Girls

29. Advocacy for Girls

30. Advocacy for Girls

31. Advocacy for Girls

32. Parallel Events

33. Parallel Events

34. Parallel Events

35. Parallel Events

36. Parallel Events

37. Girls Participation

38. Girls Participation

39. Girls Participation

40. Girls Participation

41. Girls Participation

42. Girls Participation

43. Caucus on Girls

44. Caucus on Girls

45. Caucus on Girls

46. Caucus on Girls

47. Gains for Girls

48. Gains for Girls
• Take measures to protect and address
the needs of women and girls in
situations of humanitarian emergencies

49. Gains for Girls
• Take measures to protect and address
the needs of women and girls in
situations of humanitarian emergencies
• Ensure the right of all girls, including
migrant girls and domestic workers, to
education, training, health service,
food, shelter and recreation and
prevent and eliminate child labor and
the economic exploitation of girls

51. • Provide support for girls affected by
HIV/AIDS, including young and
adolescent mothers and prevent
discrimination against those affected by
HIV/AIDS

52. • Provide support for girls affected by
HIV/AIDS, including young and
adolescent mothers and prevent
discrimination against those affected by
HIV/AIDS
• Develop gender sensitive education and
training programmes, including for
educators aimed at eliminating
discriminatory attitudes towards women
and girls

54. • Develop a strategy of zero tolerance for
violence against women and girls

55. • Develop a strategy of zero tolerance for
violence against women and girls
• Adopt measures to overcome the
negative impacts of the economic and
financial crisis on women and girls and
maintain adequate levels of funding for
gender equality.

56. Dialog on Early Marriage

57. Dialog on Early Marriage

58. Dialog on Early Marriage

59. International Conference on
Violence against the Girl Child

60. WGG Communication

61. WGG Communication

62. WGG Communication

63. WGG Communication

64. WGG Election of New Officers
Co-Chair, Catherine Moore -
International Federation of University Women
Co-Chair, Mary Ann Strain - Passionists International
Recording Secretary, Winifred Doherty -
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd
Corresponding Secretary, Eleanor Schlesinger -
Pan Pacific and Southeast Asia Women's Assoc
Treasurer, Shannon Joseph -
World Youth Alliance