59th Session of the UN Human Rights Council | Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons
On 23 June, during the 59th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, a youth advocate from the She Leads UN Youth Cohort delivered a powerful joint statement on behalf of girls and young women impacted by displacement and conflict.
Speaking during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, the statement called attention to the specific and devastating challenges faced by girls living through war, humanitarian crises, and forced displacement.
“We speak for millions of girls whose voices are too often silenced — especially those living through conflict and displacement. The women of Gaza, of Lebanon, of Ukraine, of Sudan.”
The statement highlighted the disproportionate impacts of displacement on girls:
Disrupted access to education and hygiene
Increased risk of exploitation, trafficking, and gender-based violence
Long-term psychological trauma and generational harm
“These atrocities leave psychological and generational damage. Survivors face stigma, poverty, and denial of justice, while broken systems fail them.”
She Leads advocates urged Member States to take immediate and meaningful action:
Prioritize education and mental health services for displaced girls
Fund gender-based violence prevention, safe spaces, and survivor support
Hold perpetrators of wartime violence accountable — ending impunity
Amplify girls’ and young women’s voices in peacebuilding and recovery efforts
“Whether in war or peace, women and girls’ safety is non-negotiable. Let’s demand action — because resilience alone is not protection.”
This intervention reflects the growing leadership of girls and young women in international advocacy spaces, supported by the She Leads Consortium — a collective effort to amplify youth voices, especially in addressing systemic injustices and gendered impacts of conflict.
About She Leads
The She Leads programme is a global initiative working to empower and amplify the voices of girls and young women in civic and political spaces. At the Human Rights Council and beyond, She Leads advocates stand at the forefront of calls for justice, safety, and meaningful participation.
Read The Full Statement Here (in English)
Watch The Statement: