The Dreams of a 12 Year Old Girl

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The Dreams of a 12 Year Old Girl
EQUALITY NOW
presents
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Equality Now works to end violence and
discrimination against women and girls around the
world.
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In 2004, Equality Now launched its Beijing 10
campaign to end discriminatory laws.
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At age 12, a girl stands on the edge of
adulthood. She has dreams about the life she
wants to lead.
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She hopes to make choices and wants to prepare
for the challenges she will face,

• the woman she will become.

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• In spite of the progress made since the Fourth
  World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995,
  many laws around the world overtly discriminate
  against her because she was born female.

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• Many laws around the world jeopardize her future.

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I am your daughter, your sister, your friend,
your neighbor. I am 12 years old.
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I want to be an equal citizen.
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Did you know that the citizenship law in my
country treats me differently from my brothers?
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I want to vote.My mother still cannot.
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Why is my mother not allowed to vote in my
country although my father can?
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I want to work in a place of my choosing.
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Do you know that in my country the law allows a
husband to object to his wifes profession?
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My father can prevent my mother from working if
he thinks it against the interest of their
marriage or children.
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If I get married, I want my husband to be an
equal partner.
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Do you know that the law in my country

• Requires me to obey my husband
• Considers my husband the head of our marital
  property, the sole administrator of our joint
  property?

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I see my mother and aunts who cannot leave the
house without their husbands permission.
I dont want that to happen to me.
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I want to inherit and own property, whether or
not I am married.
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Why should I forgo my right to inheritance and
family property if I decide to get married?
In my country, I would have to.
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I want the right to divorce and remarry.
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My father beats my mother.Why does she need his
permission to divorce him in my country?
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I want to live free from violence and
discrimination.
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Is it too much to ask that I be protected from
rape? Even within my marriage.
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I want to be free from female genital mutilation.
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Who are my laws protecting?
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The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
say that I am equal to my brothers.

• I am

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How can I be treated equally with my brothers if
my countrys laws discriminate against me?
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But I am hopeful.
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Turkey has repealed a law that made a husband
the head of the marital union.
Since the Beijing Conference in 1995 positive
changes have begun
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Mexico has reformed its law that allowed girls
to be married at 14 and boys at 16. The marriage
age is now 18 for all.
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Morocco has adopted a new Family Code that
eliminates discriminatory laws.
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I want my government to protect my rights and
give me a voice when I become a woman.
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Governments incur no costs in ending
discriminatory laws it is free.

• All we need is political will.

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Act now.You can make a difference in my life.
End discriminatory laws now!
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Get involved. Join me in creating a world of
opportunity for girls. Support Equality Nows
campaign to end discriminatory laws worldwide
Log on to www.equalitynow.org
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