Gender and Adolescence Research Panorama. Quarter 1 2021 Edition

Abstract

In light of the 65th session of The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) (2021) we would like to reflect on this year’s priority theme: ‘women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life’ with a particular focus on younger women and girls’ active participation. Female and especially girls’ participation in decision-making platforms is a vital component in the fight against a number of pressing global issues such as climate change, child marriage and violence. In this first Panorama of 2021, we focus on adolescent girls’ participation across these issue areas. Adolescents’ economic and political contexts, as well as gender relations and social norms can influence their participation in public life. To highlight some of these challenges, the Q1 Panorama includes a country spotlight on Lebanon, which has faced significant economic and political changes in recent years and seen a surge in youth protests and public participation (see Box 1). We would also like to highlight a new GAGE blog entitled ‘We Need Youth Leadership To Carve Out A Better Future’ by a 19-year-old Lebanese girl who discusses her experiences of volunteering to support families caught in crisis and the importance of youth leadership. This work is an output of the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) programme