A/HRC/50/25 organizations and movements on equal terms; support in the form of two-way exchanges, mentorship and skills development; family and community support; equal access to the Internet; equal enjoyment of the right to quality education; respect for sexual and reproductive health and rights; and direct and meaningful participation through appropriate normative and institutional frameworks that have been developed with the participation of young women and girls.43 Facilitating collaboration and building solidarity within and across movements, organizations and generations 53. Girls and young women often consider collaboration with and support from other actors and movements particularly important for starting, pursuing and strengthening their activism and amplifying their voices. As expressed by one of the participants during the consultations: “when we unite from a basis of respect, harmony and attention to human rights, we achieve amazing things”. International and local NGOs play a key role in providing platforms for networking, experience-sharing among peers, solidarity and holistic protection, care and well-being, and engagement with decision makers, as well as opportunities for awareness-raising and capacity-building, including leadership programmes. For some girls and young women, involvement in the work of international NGOs was useful in securing more protection against intimidation and harassment. 54. Participation in awareness-raising and other activities organized by civil society organizations or the encouragement received from teachers and parents also play an important role in promoting and sustaining girls’ and young women’s activism. In addition, the opportunity to engage with other young activists to share their experiences, strategies, challenges and struggles, to support each other and to be involved in broader networks, including feminist organizations, networks and movements, were referred to as fundamental aspects in the development of their activism. As one activist noted: “What helped me was knowing that I was not alone.” 55. Intergenerational dialogue and mentorship schemes based on mutual respect are considered critical for strengthening girls’ and young women’s motivation to engage in public and political life as they turn to adults to learn more about the issues they are interested in and look for role models. 44 In the Asia-Pacific region, for instance, a platform for intergenerational dialogue has been established through a women’s forum and a young women’s forum, which has led to the creation of an intergenerational women’s leadership programme. In some contexts, however, the lack of intergenerational dialogue remains a major challenge. Some girls noted that women in their communities often did not have time to engage with them to pass on knowledge and experience. Some others also considered that, in some contexts, women might be more reluctant than younger generations to defy patriarchal norms. 56. Engagement with and support from national human rights institutions also plays a vital role in sustaining girls’ and young women’s activism, especially when they face threats, reprisals or other violations of their human rights. Unfortunately, in many cases girls and young women have limited knowledge of the existence of such mechanisms and their working methods. Specific channels facilitating engagement with those mechanisms for young women and girls are often absent. Promoting family and community support 57. The encouragement and support of parents, family and caregivers are what make engagement in public and political life possible for many girls and young women. Adult understanding and awareness of the human rights of girls and young women, including their right to participate in public and political life, is vital. As stressed by the Committee on the Rights of the Child: “Support is needed to enable adults to become mentors and facilitators so that adolescents can take greater responsibility for their own lives and the lives of those 43 44 14 See Plan International, “Engaging girls, boys and youth as active citizens” (March 2020). See Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, “Children as agents of positive change. A mapping of children’s initiatives across regions, towards an inclusive and healthy world free from violence”.