WHITE HOUSE VIDEO MESSAGE: Empowering Girls Worldwide

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 AM ET, SATURDAY, March 7, 2015

WHITE HOUSE VIDEO MESSAGE: Empowering Girls Worldwide    

WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s White House video message, Oliva López discussed an issue close to the President’s heart: education for adolescent girls around the world.  Earlier this week, the President and the First Lady announced “Let Girls Learn,” a whole of government initiative that will build on investments we have made and successes we have achieved in global primary school education, and expand them to help adolescent girls complete their education and pursue their broader aspirations. 62 million girls around the world – half of whom are adolescent – are not in school and therefore have diminished economic opportunities.  Yet when a girl receives a quality education, she is more likely to earn a decent living, raise a healthy, educated family, and improve the quality of life for herself, her family, and her community.  That’s why the President and First Lady have made addressing  this problem a priority because every girl has so much to offer to the world, and no girl should be denied her chance to learn.

The audio of the address and video of the message will be available online HERE.

Remarks of Oliva López, Office of the First Lady

Spanish Weekly Address

The White House

March 7, 2015

Hi, everybody.  I’m Oliva López, and I work in the First Lady’s Office. Sunday is International Women’s Day – a day to celebrate remarkable women and girls worldwide, and to re-dedicate ourselves to defending the fundamental rights and dignity of all people.

That’s why, this week, the President and the First Lady launched “Let Girls Learn.”  And its goal is to help more girls around the world go to school and stay in school. Right now, 62 million girls who should be in school, aren’t. 

Maybe their families can’t afford the school fees.  Maybe the risk of being hurt or kidnapped by men who will do anything to stop girls from learning is just too great.  Or maybe they aren’t in school because they’re expected to get married and become mothers while they’re still teenagers – or even earlier. In too many parts of the world, girls are still valued more for their bodies than for their minds.  We all have to do more to stop it.

We’re making it clear to any country that’s our partner – or that wants to be – that they need to get serious about increasing the number of girls in school.  Our diplomats and development experts are already hard at work.  Our Peace Corps volunteers will play a big role, too.  And we’re putting our partnerships with NGOs, businesses and foundations to work on behalf of girls everywhere. 

When girls are educated, their future children are healthier and better nourished.  Their future wages increase, which in turn strengthens their families’ security.  National growth gets a boost, too.  And places where women and girls are treated as full and equal citizens tend to be more stable and more democratic. 

We want to make sure that no girl out there is denied her chance to learn – that no girl is prevented from making her unique contributions to the world.  Because every girl – every girl – is precious.  And every girl deserves an education.

Thanks, and have a great weekend.

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