Girls Not Brides recognised on top 50 list of ideas and solutions improving the lives of girls and women worldwide

Media release

On International Women’s Day, Women Deliver features grassroots and global initiatives that promote a better world for girls and women.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2012, New York – Women Deliver, a global advocacy organisation, today announced the “Women Deliver 50,” a compilation of the 50 most inspiring ideas and solutions that are delivering for girls and women across the globe. After receiving hundreds of online nominations from 103 countries, a selection committee chose 125 finalists to be voted on by the public. More than 6,000 individuals participated in the online voting. Girls Not Brides is honoured to be among the winning selections.
“The solutions on this list show that with ingenuity, drive and dedication, we can build a better world for girls and women,” said Jill Sheffield, Women Deliver Founder and President. “We are proud to celebrate these organisations and programmes, which are pioneering real, lasting, social change at the local and global levels. We have seen time and time again that when we invest in girls and women, entire societies benefit.”
The “Women Deliver 50″ list showcases advocacy campaigns; health interventions; technologies; educational initiatives and leadership programs. The initiatives, which range from grassroots to global, are led by social entrepreneurs, civil society, governments, international agencies and private companies.

Girls Not Brides recognised in ‘Women Deliver 50′ list

“Child brides are some of the world’s most isolated and voiceless people. We are delighted that the work of Girls Not Brides and its members to give these girls a voice and to empower those vulnerable to child marriage has been recognised by Women Deliver,” said Marianna Brungs, Interim Coordinator of Girls Not Brides.
“Child marriage hinders the achievement of six of the eight Millennium Development Goals yet it has long been absent from the international agenda. Girls Not Brides and its members are working hard to raise awareness and encourage action at grassroots, national and international levels to bring an end to this harmful practice,” added Ms Brungs.
Of the 50 ideas and solutions featured, 25 are centred in sub-Saharan Africa, 9 in Asia, 5 in the Middle East and North Africa, 4 in Latin America, and 2 in Europe and North America, while the others are global in reach. A selection committee of experts and advocates representing the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Medic Mobile, Room to Read, Man Up and the International Center for Research on Women, narrowed down the original list of nominations for voting. Women Deliver President, Jill Sheffield, acted as Chair.
Other inspirational solutions featured in the Women Deliver 50 include Aawaaj, an organization in Nepal that works to break the silence around sexual violence, Backpack Farm’s project in Kenya and South Sudan to build the capacity of female farmers.
View the entire Women Deliver 50 list at www.womendeliver.org.

Media contacts:

• Lindsey Taylor Wood, Women Deliver: ltwood@womendeliver.org
• Laura Dickinson, Girls Not Brides: media@GirlsNotBrides.org