Geeta was 12 years old when she was sold into domestic slavery by her father. For years she worked from sunrise until late into the night. She never believed she would be free. “It was a situation that was impossible to escape from. All the verbal abuse, all the threats; there was nothing I could [...]

Three things that don’t belong in schools are corporal punishment, bullying and sexual violence. But, cruel and humiliating forms of psychological punishment, gender-based violence and bullying remain a daily reality for millions of children. In fact, corporal punishment happens so often around the world that children in many places do not see it as being [...]

Yesterday some girls told us about the different ways they’ve experienced gender discrimination.  One told us of how she plays hockey with boys.  The boys make fun of her for being a girl and whisper about her being weak.  Another girl said she challenged a boy in her class who said ‘girls should only be [...]

I have been an advocate of Girls Rights since before I knew what “Girls Rights” meant. My mother left home when she was fourteen.  She faced abuse at the hands of my father.  She raised three children as a single parent, without a high school degree, on government assistance.  She was an amazingly capable mother, [...]

After the show yesterday in Thunder Bay when Masia One and Eternia were signing autographs, I sat down in a chair and exhaled.  A student walked up to me and said “Woah, you totally had a sad look on your face right then.” I didn’t want to admit it to her, but I was.  For [...]