Advocating on
Behalf of All Girls
Girls Inc. National Organization Statement
on Challenges to Abortion Rights
Girls Inc. advocates for policies and practices that advance the rights and opportunities of girls and young women. We work to ensure girls have the skills, knowledge, and support to make decisions to help them lead fulfilling, safe, and healthy lives. Their bodily autonomy is critical to their dignity as human beings and their right to be safe in the world.
To that end, Girls Inc. believes everyone has the fundamental right to choose if, when, and under what circumstances to get pregnant and carry a pregnancy to term. As part of our mission to advance girls’ rights and opportunities, we support access to comprehensive sex education and safe, high-quality reproductive health care, including contraception and abortion services.
Reproductive freedom is essential for young women to take charge of key areas of their lives, including their health, education, career, and overall economic security. Anti-choice bills like the recent Texas S.B. 8 and others across the country disproportionately affect already marginalized groups in the communities we serve, including girls of color, families living in poverty, and sexual violence survivors.
Therefore, Girls Inc. will continue to advocate for the rights and dignity of girls and to push back on policies and practices that seek to limit their control of their own lives.
We translate our work with girls into powerful advocacy to improve opportunities for them to succeed and lead healthy, educated, and independent lives.
At the National level, we focus on driving policies and practices that open doors to girls and ensure equality.
We engage in advocacy that focuses on the needs of girls from low-income communities and girls who face multiple, intersectional challenges such as those based on sex, race, religion, ethnicity, immigration status, disability, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Combat Bullying, Harassment, & Sexual Violence
1 in 4 girls experiences sexual abuse or assault by age 18.
Sexual harassment and violence can lead to ongoing physical, mental, and economic consequences and can adversely affect the ability of girls to stay in school and hold down jobs, further limiting their opportunities. Girls Inc. takes a holistic approach to combating sexual violence, harassment and bullying by raising awareness about girls’ rights and schools’ obligations and advocating for policies that promote safe learning environments and address the root causes of sexual violence.
Bullying and Sexual Harassment Fact Sheet
Sexual and Dating Violence Fact Sheet
Title IX and School Safety Checklist
Support Girls’ Mental Health
Suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10-24.
No one should be made to feel ashamed about taking steps to improve their mental health. While 1 in 5 teens report suffering from a mental illness, many do not feel comfortable asking for help because of societal stigma and those who do may not have access to quality, affordable care. Almost 8 in 10 high school girls report being unhappy with their bodies, LGBTQ students experience high rates of bullying and harassment, and girls who survive trauma often get punished for coping behaviors instead of getting the help they need to heal.
Advance Reproductive Health
Over 1 in 20 teen girls becomes pregnant each year.
Too many young people do not have the necessary information they need to make informed decisions about their bodies and sexual health. Often the girls who are least informed are the most vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancy, and unhealthy relationships. In order for girls and young women to make informed decisions about their bodies and health, Girls Inc. advocates for comprehensive, medically accurate, non-shaming, and LGBT-inclusive sexuality education, as well as access to quality, affordable reproductive health care for all girls and women.
Support Comprehensive Sex Education
Girls Inc. National Organization Statement on Challenges to Abortion Rights
Reproductive Health: Helping Girls Lead Healthy Lives
Sexual and Dating Violence Fact Sheet