Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, took the virtual stage at the United Nations Foundation’s Girl Up 2020 Leadership Summit on Tuesday, marking her first major speech since she and her husband, Prince Harry, abandoned their royal duties earlier of this year.
The international event gave the 38-year-old keynote speaker the opportunity to greet girls around the world with a motivating message.
The former Meghan Markle addressed “young women around the world who are not only prepared to change the world, but have already begun to change the world,” and informed them that they have even more influence in that world than they think. .
“I want to share something with you,” he said. “It’s that those in the halls, corridors and places of power, from legislators and world leaders to executives, all those people, depend on you more than you will depend on them.” And here’s the thing: they know this.
“You know that all of you, at a younger age than any modern comparison, are setting the tone for an equitable humanity. Not figuratively, literally. This is a humanity that desperately needs you. To push him, to push us, forcefully in a more inclusive, fairer, and more empathetic direction. Not only to frame the debate, but also to be in charge of the debate: on racial justice, gender, climate change, mental health and well-being, civic engagement, public service, and much more. That’s the job you’re already doing. “
And that’s the work that she believes the next generation of women can do like no other, reinventing and reformulating the status quo, especially those who are already benefiting from programs like Girl Up, which supports UN agencies that are focus on teenage girls.
“Girl Up members are organizing Black Lives Matter protests around the world, they are creating movies to encourage their peers to become activist leaders, they are reforming the criminal justice system, they are telling school boards that we need more mental health resources for all ages. You lead coalitions to end armed violence, “he told them.” You are standing up and you are demanding to be heard, yes, but you are also owning the conversation. “
But Meghan did not simply use the forum to applaud what the girls are already doing. She also offered advice on the work still to be done.
She noted:
- “We are not destined to break each other; we are meant to build each other. So use your voice both online and offline to do exactly that: build each other, support each other. “
- “The moment we are living now asks us all to do more. It is a time when their voices and action have never been needed more urgently. “
- “Believing in true equality is not enough: it will take more than believing, we have to work for it every day, even when it is difficult and even when it makes others feel uncomfortable.”
While Tuesday’s speech was Meghan’s first major engagement since she officially retired from royal duties in March, she remained busy in the wake of what many called “Megxit,” despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
In March, he contacted a woman looking for a job by video call for a motivational talk. In June, she had moving words for the graduating class of her alma mater from high school, Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles. And earlier this month, Harry joined her to discuss racial injustice with young leaders and activists.
Her continued work emphasizes the most important part of her message for girls: the most important thing is to start doing something.
“Look, sometimes it is not obvious what to do,” she told those gathered for the Girl Up Summit. “Often, it is fear that paralyzes us and prevents us from being brave and fearless. But don’t underestimate that you have some of the answers. Don’t underestimate your ability to overcome fear. You have, rooted in your convictions, the ability to create a world that you know is fair and kind. Your instinct will tell you what is right and what is wrong; what is fair and unfair The hardest part, and it was the most difficult for me, is to pursue your convictions with action. “
