Couric & Co.
March 5, 2007 4:03 PM

Katie: Listening As "Girls Speak Out"

By
Katie Couric
Topics
Katie Couric
(CBS)
Sometimes I feel so privileged to have my job, because I'm exposed to so many important stories. Such was the case Friday, in the august assembly room at the United Nations. Two hundred girls from all over the world are here in New York for a meeting of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. I met some of these girls Friday when I moderated a panel — "Girls Speak Out"— hosted by the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative.

The girls' poignant stories were incredibly sad. But these girls were also so inspirational, as they spoke emotionally about overcoming hardships that are difficult to even imagine in this country. To see these teenage girls, who are the ages of my own daughters, speak so courageously about the painful, even humiliating events of their lives almost made me cry.

Madeleine, 15, from the Democratic Republic of Congo was one of six presenters at the forum. She described being forced to become a child soldier at age 11, witnessing the rapes and sexual slavery of other girls before she escaped. She is now a committed advocate for girls affected by armed conflict. 16-year old Sunita Tamang from Biratnagar, Nepal missed out on school while working endless hours in a matchstick factory with her mother to support her family after her dad died. As part of the Domestic Child Workers' Network, she now raises awareness about child labor. Zambian Memory Phiri, 19, lost both her parents and was raped at age 10. She learned she was HIV positive after arriving at an orphanage. She went on to write a book, and speaks out about discrimination against people living with HIV.

As the mother of two girls lucky to be growing up in the United States, I was haunted by these horrifying stories. They are just glimpses of what happens to many girls around the world.

As the United Nations has documented, the impact of discrimination and violence against girls is staggering: 55 million girls are not in school; millions of school-aged girls work in domestic service; an estimated 40 percent of child soldiers are girls; and more than 60 percent of young people aged 15-25 living with HIV and AIDS are female.

Behind these numbers are girls just like Madeleine and Sunita, and countless others. We need to pay attention to their dilemmas, educate ourselves and become outraged enough to try to help them. It's our obligation and responsibility. To those whom much is given, much is expected. In this country, where so many have so much, it is our moral responsibility to educate ourselves and try to help.

I truly believe that to change the world, you have to learn the world.

Add a Comment
by haley04062 March 6, 2007 7:34 PM EST
Thank you for sharing this....I am 14 and I can't believe it...wow. After hearing this I realize that I am very lucky...very. Thank you for sharing this...your daughters are very lucky...to have a caring mother like you! Keep up the Amazing work!!!

cockerspaniellover1@hotmail.com
Reply to this comment
by paz4todos March 6, 2007 3:25 AM EST
Thank you for this small sharing of such a powerful event. I was there on staff of our delegation of 8 high school girls and their teachers from Peru, Germany, Ghana and the United States and the Girls Speak Out was a highlight of the week. We were disappointed when no mention was made on your evening news segment and hope to see a follow-up in the future. We could tell that you were not there for publicity, but because you care, so please share this story with this country so that the change we all desire can begin with awareness. As you said, "you have to learn the world" and people begin to do this through the popular media.

Thank you for your presence and interest.
Peace,
Beth
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by srs4453 March 6, 2007 2:14 AM EST
what!?

"the United Nations remains of the greatest international organizations ever founded for the purposes of promoting peace and international understanding among nations, in the history of mankind."

what a friggin joke. the largest gathering of tyrants, thugs and shake down artist. some of these same blue bennies where behind rapes in africa and stood by (and still do) and did nothing to as genocide was commited in bosnia and the sudan.
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by petersemkiw March 6, 2007 1:22 AM EST
Dear Katie, I think it's great that even with your hectic schedule, you were able to find some time to continue your involvement with the United Nations. It must have been a very educational and interesting, but also an inspirational and emotional experience, to hear about the stories of these young girls' ordeals in other parts of the world, and how they coped. As you say,to change the world we have to learn the world. And what better place to learn the world than at the United Nations? I hope the CBS Evening News will cover some of the UN meetings,too! Despite its imperfections, I think that the United Nations remains of the greatest international organizations ever founded for the purposes of promoting peace and international understanding among nations, in the history of mankind. Thanks for sharing your UN experience with us!
Reply to this comment
by ericmichael1 March 5, 2007 11:01 PM EST
Katie,

The plight of child soldiers in Africa is well-documented. Darfur is well documented. And Blood Diamonds are well documented. Those who deny their existence allow the slaughter to be perpetrated. Shame on them!

Yet the United States will not solve these issues through money, the military or anything else. It will require change in people's hearts. Not ours', but the perpetrator's.

I like you, Katie. You have a good heart. How can you anchor an entire newscast of heart-breaking stories from around the world nearly every night? I can see you cry, even when you're not. Maybe one day we will both be able to retire. But our hearts will still be affected. We cannot retire from what we have experienced.

Eric
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