HR 362: Girls Empowerment Day; February 20, 2025; recognize

House Resolution 362

By: Representative Mitchell of the 88th

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing February 20, 2025, as Girls Empowerment Day; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Trinity Girls Network, founded in July 2016 by Outstanding Georgia Citizen Award winner Dr. Jacqueline Mohair, persistently works toward the empowerment of girls and young women through a three-pronged approach: ending violence against girls and women, preparing girls for success, and providing opportunities through education; and

WHEREAS, Trinity Girls Network extends its impact internationally, including through its efforts in Zambia, where it provides critical support such as food, clothing, and toys to girls in need, furthering its mission to empower and uplift; and

WHEREAS, Trinity Girls Network operates as a non-governmental organization with consultative status under the United Nations Economic and Social Council, allowing it to advocate for the rights and empowerment of women and girls on a global stage and aligning its work with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals; and

WHEREAS, globally, 65 million girls and young women are not in school, 31 million girls of primary school age are not in school, and 33 million fewer girls than boys attend primary school, with 17 million of these girls never expected to attend school in their lifetimes; and

WHEREAS, over 120 million young people between the ages of 15 and 24 cannot read or write, with 61 percent of this group being women; and

WHEREAS, half of the children who are not in school live in conflict-ridden areas, and girls make up 55 percent of this total; and

WHEREAS, nearly 70 million children worldwide lack access to basic education, and more than half are girls, with evidence showing that educating a girl can break a cycle of poverty in just one generation; and

WHEREAS, girls who receive an education marry later, have fewer children, earn higher wages, and support healthier and more prosperous families, underscoring that the empowerment of and investment in girls are key factors in breaking the cycle of discrimination and violence, as well as promoting and protecting their full human rights; and

WHEREAS, girls with an extra year of education can earn 20 percent more as an adult, and a child born to a mother who can read and write is 50 percent more likely to survive past the age of five; moreover, educated mothers are more than twice as likely to send their children to school; and

WHEREAS, the State of Georgia is blessed with hundreds of gifted girls and young women whose full potential has yet to be fostered and developed; and

WHEREAS, education is the key to the empowerment of this state's girls and young women, fostering the development of their minds and academic and leadership skills as well as playing a vital role in shaping tomorrow's leaders; and

WHEREAS, the dynamic collaboration of Trinity Girls Network, The Dr. Pat Houston Performing Arts Academy, The Organization of World Leaders, and The Whitney Houston Foundation converges annually at the Georgia State Capitol, serving as a powerful catalyst to empower the lives of young ladies and creating a transformative event that resonates across the state and beyond.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize February 20, 2025, as Girls Empowerment Day to celebrate the accomplishments and potential of girls and young women and to encourage continued efforts to invest in their futures through education and empowerment. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body express their deepest gratitude to Trinity Girls Network and its partners, including its Zambia initiative and its consultative efforts with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, for their unwavering dedication to uplifting and transforming the lives of girls and young women both locally and globally.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press.