The session included a host of inspiring speakers and two informative panel discussions. We were honored to have Madame Sophie Grégoire Trudeau as our keynote speaker, as well as UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, USAID Senior Adviser Michelle Bekkering, and six bipartisan members of the U.S. Congress. The event was also supported by the UN Foundation’s Girl Up campaign, Know Violence in Childhood, Women Deliver, UNAIDS, UNICEF, PAHO/WHO, The Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, and the United Methodist Church.

The first of the panel discussions, “Making the Case,” featured the latest data and research on prevention and response of violence against girls. The second panel, “Moving from Data to Action and Advocacy,” featured both seasoned experts and youth advocates discussing how we can utilize data to inform programmatic response, advocate for change around the world, and incorporate the perspectives of young people in this important work. Together, the panels highlighted the importance of collaboration across disciplines to develop the most effective, holistic strategies for ending violence against girls.