UN holds key conference on girls in Istanbul

The second International Day of the Girl Child Conference was held in Istanbul on Oct. 11, hosted by the Aydın Doğan Foundation in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), U.N. Women, and UNICEF.

Focusing on the main theme of "Empowered Girls, Empowered Future: Inclusive and quality education, an end to child marriages," this year's conference aimed to raise awareness on empowering girls while providing a platform for discussion on preventing child marriage and removing obstacles to achieving gender equality in education.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the conference at Hilton Istanbul, Aydın Doğan Foundation President Hanzade Doğan Boyner drew attention to illiterate woman and underage marriages, urging communities to protect girls, stop violence against them, and prevent the deprivation of their fundamental right to education.

"Today, there are 500 million illiterate women in the world. Some 200 million women have been married under age. Unless we take action, a further 100 million women will be married under age in the next 10 years. Those children, whose fundamental human right to education is taken from them, are exposed to violence. In order to stop this situation, the U.N. has called all the world to take action with the motto of 'Empowered Girls. Empowered Futures.' We should also join hands, accelerate our works and protect our girls and children as the press, academics and NGOs," Doğan Boyner said.

The foundation head also noted that investment in programs for girls would create a multiplier effect, leading to a brighter future.

"We know that the child who continues education can better protect himself/herself against violence. We know that if we give equal rights to girls and exhibit...