Girl Guides fringe event at Conference Sunday 1st October 2023 (Spech in full)
It’s a pleasure to be speaking at the girl-guiding fringe.
My story begins in Sri Lanka amidst an ethnic minority armed conflict. I recall when suicide bombers shook our days, curfews became the norm, and home-schooling was commonplace.
Growing up in a strict patriarchal society wasn't easy. I was the lone girl in a family of four brothers, and while my father was notably fair, he made sure that I had the same opportunities as my siblings. If they got bikes, I got one, too; if I had a doll, they had dolls as well. Yet, there were limits imposed by societal norms, particularly when it came to higher education opportunities, and those weren’t available for me. My brothers went off to universities abroad, and I was married off at a very young age (to someone I hardly knew) and became a mother of two boys, all in the belief that I was doing the right thing by my family.
On top of the shackles of culture, religion and community, there was the war.
I remember like it was yesterday when a truck bomb went off right next to my school, The impact physically threw me backwards, even before I heard the blast. Nothing was certain. No plans were made. No futures envisioned.
I excelled academically, but education was not a priority for the girl child. Besides, I couldn't be more educated than the man I was to marry. I could only restart my education after my battle with divorce, and I went on to complete my MBA, built a successful career, and raised my two boys by myself. I ran two political campaigns, successfully lobbied for 25% female representation in local government and started working in villages promoting girls' education for which I recently received a global award. All the while fighting misogyny, harassment, and persecution.
When I moved to the UK, I faced a new set of challenges. even with my Master's, I couldn’t find a job and I started at the very bottom of the ladder at the Open University. It broke my confidence and I remember feeling very low and thinking why does everything have to be a battle?
Fast forward to today, and I stand before you, not just as a senior member at the university but also as an elected councillor, a prospective parliamentary candidate, and a volunteer in various roles, from being a vaccinator to mentoring and providing support to young people in custody.
The Girls' Attitude Survey raises critical questions and spotlights the concerns affecting young girls today. My story, though unique, shares a common thread with the struggles many girls face. It highlights the importance of organisations like Girlguiding and initiatives like the Girls' Attitude Survey.
The survey reveals a sobering reality: many young girls struggle with hardships that affect their mental health and overall development. It speaks to the challenges that girls across different backgrounds and circumstances confront as they navigate life.
While the challenges are undeniably real, I want to reassure you that our government is taking meaningful steps to address issues disproportionately affecting women and girls. Let’s consider the milestones achieved in the last few years:
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The Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, criminalises stalking, strangulation, revenge porn, and child marriage.
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The upcoming Online Safety Bill is designed to combat technology-driven crimes like stalking and cyber harassment.
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The landmark Domestic Abuse Act has strengthened protections for victims and stopped the "rough sex gone wrong" defence.
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The Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Bill, which became law in September 2023, makes it an offence to intentionally harass someone in public based on their sex.
A study by the All-Party Parliament Group for UN Women found that 71% of women in the UK have experienced some form of sexual harassment in public spaces, yet only 5% of incidents were reported to the police. We must encourage victims to report these incidents, for silence perpetuates impunity. The Home Office's StreetSafe tool offers an avenue for anonymous reporting, ensuring safety even in the darkest moments.
While legislative progress is essential, we must also nurture our own development. Education stands as a mighty pillar, so educate yourselves on everything, on the law, and share that knowledge.
In conclusion, we have come far but our path to progress is far from over. Meaningful change requires the dedication of individuals, communities, and organisations like Girlguiding. We must continue to come together and continue to amplify our voices, for only by doing so can we hope to transform our challenges into triumphs.
Thank you
