Zonta International UN Paris plans forums for Day of the Girl and Zero Tolerance Day

The Zonta International United Nations Committee Paris team has announced plans for two international awareness and advocacy forums focused on girls’ education and the elimination of female genital mutilation (FGM).

The first event is planned for 11 October 2026 in recognition of the International Day of the Girl. Organized in both in-person and online formats, the initiative aims to encourage events in many African countries supported by the committee.

One theme will be, “Investing in Girls’ Education: It Brings Development and Peace.” The event will examine the evolving challenges and opportunities facing girls’ education worldwide. Organizers said the 2026 discussions will seek to update educational reference frameworks to reflect the rapid emergence of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, environmental concerns, the long-term consequences of the global health crisis and the updated priorities of UNESCO regarding education and gender equality.

The program will also address “Girls’ Education in the Age of AI,” highlighting how progress toward gender equality in education remains fragile and reversible. While parity between girls and boys has nearly been reached at the primary school level in many countries, organizers noted that disparities continue to widen in secondary education. The event will also spotlight UNESCO initiatives supporting girls and women in education.

The committee is also planning activities for International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation in February 2027. The event will focus on raising awareness of female genital mutilation, a practice that affects more than 230 million women and girls worldwide.

Discussions will examine FGM as a form of global violence against women and girls and explore the social and cultural determinants that contribute to the continuation of the practice.

Proposed thematic areas for the event include prevention and education, protection and human rights and community mobilization. Additional contemporary issues to be addressed include the medicalization of FGM, the dynamics of FGM within diaspora communities, professional training and international cooperation efforts aimed at eliminating the practice worldwide.

6 MAY 2026