The Duchess of Edinburgh deepens commitment to girls’ rights in meeting with young women from around the world

The Duchess of Edinburgh has reinforced her commitment to championing girls’ rights during an inspiring meeting with young women advocates from around the world. 

Hosted by global children’s charity Plan International UK – of which the Duchess is a patron - the New York event brought together youth advocates from across the globe to share their powerful experiences of living through conflict and crises.

As part of the event, Her Royal Highness took part in a panel discussion and heard firsthand accounts from the young people, who described the harsh realities facing girls in their communities, including displacement due to conflict, child marriage and climate-induced economic hardship.

The meeting took place on the first day of the Commission on the Status of Women, an annual United Nations conference dedicated to advancing gender equality.

Sadeen, aged 21, from Jordan is one of the young women who met with Her Royal Highness to highlight the harsh reality of living amid conflict and climate change:

“Growing up in a region where conflict feels like the background noise of daily life, I’ve realised how quickly the basics like water, electricity and safety become luxuries,” she says. “Climate change doesn’t wait for peace - the summers keep getting hotter, the rain comes late or not at all, and the land suffers with us. I’m watching my community stretched to its limits, where surviving conflict is just the beginning, and battling climate collapse is the next fight we didn’t ask for.

“I’ve met women who have rebuilt their entire lives in the middle of destruction, planting rooftop gardens and collecting every drop of water like its gold. These are women solving the climate crisis on the frontlines of war, with nothing but determination and whatever resources they can find.”

Jhussahara, aged 20, from Peru also shared the struggle of living with extreme water scarcity: 

“My family has one hour of water a day. Can you imagine how difficult it is to carry out our daily chores? Many people do not realise the real impact of climate change on families like my own, including how it hits women and girls the hardest. I have seen climate-induced displacement and economic instability force many girls out of school, increasing their vulnerability to early marriage and gender-based violence."

The Duchess has a longstanding commitment to championing the rights of girls and women, and recently visited the Chad-Sudan border, where she witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of conflict on displaced girls and young women and met many young people being supported by Plan International UK. 

Rose Caldwell, CEO of Plan International UK, emphasised the significance of the Duchess’s support: “The power of listening to and elevating the voices of girls and young women affected by crises cannot be understated. This meeting with The Duchess of Edinburgh was an important moment in our ongoing work to push forward gender equality, ensuring that these young women’s stories are not just heard but acted upon.”