A/HRC/50/25 their minds and engaging outside the domestic sphere. Many girl activists stressed that their chances to engage in activism were considerably limited if they were told from the youngest age that their place was at home and if parents gave priority to their sons’ education. Furthermore, they frequently had very limited time available to devote to activism, given the disproportionate household and care duties they shouldered. 29. Parental authority and overprotective approaches are often exercised to limit the freedom and space of engagement of children and young people. In the case of girls and young women, these barriers are dramatically compounded by predominant gender stereotypes and patriarchal social norms. As one of the activists explained, girls “are not decision makers even in matters, like leaving school and getting married, that have a massive impact on their lives”. As noted by the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, the significant barriers to women’s and girls’ enjoyment of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association “are deeply rooted at home, in the family and in the community, where women and girls continue to live under patriarchal control and experience wrongful stereotyping, both of which prevent and punish participation in public life”.28 That resonates with the experiences of girl and young women activists, who are often portrayed as destroyers of family values and national traditions. The perception of young activists as challenging established sociocultural gender norms may lead to aggression, including threats and violence, or lack of recognition and support from their families, communities and the general population, as well as the authorities. 30. Girls and young women may face restrictions on their mobility and lack access to information and resources, including digital devices and the financial resources needed to pay transport costs to attend gatherings or cover the membership fees required to join an organization or association. Access to education, especially at secondary and tertiary levels, professional training, productive resources and economic opportunities continue to be limited for many girls and young women across the globe, particularly those living in rural or precarious settings. Often, they are not sufficiently aware of or duly informed about their rights, which is a fundamental precondition for their activism. 31. Early and forced marriages as well as forced, unwanted or child pregnancies, female genital mutilation, sexual violence, including rape, often with curtailed access to sexual and reproductive health services, information and goods, including those related to menstrual health, contraception and abortion care, accompanied by denial of their autonomy in relation to these matters, are also major human rights barriers to girls’ and young women’s activism. These stem from deeply rooted gendered norms aimed at limiting their autonomy and considerably constraining their opportunities to participate fully and equally in political and public life. 2. Marginalization and exclusion from public spaces and intersectional forms of discrimination 32. Civil society organizations and movements, including those advancing human rights, are usually led by adults who may therefore frequently be unresponsive to the views, experiences, space and needs of girls and young women. Even child rights and women’s rights organizations are often blind to the diverse realities and experiences of girls and young women and often perpetuate discrimination within the movement. Girl-led organizations are often not part of or connected to the mainstream women’s rights movement and not equally recognized, funded or supported. In some cases, the agendas of international partners and donors drive young women’s and girls’ activism, instead of genuinely empowering them and giving them the space and power to set the agenda, lead decision-making and determine their own priorities. 33. International human rights mechanisms are not easily accessible to girl and young women activists. Girls generally lack information about United Nations mechanisms and bodies, their functions and the age requirements for accreditation within the system, owing to a dearth of child-friendly and age-sensitive information developed by the United Nations. They may also be unable to obtain visas to travel to participate in international forums. 28 A/75/184, para. 40. 9