A/HRC/50/25 around them.” Children have the right to receive guidance aimed at empowering them, including on how to exercise their rights and protect themselves from harm. 58. Families and communities often need support in their roles, which may need to encompass also interventions aimed at addressing shortcomings in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, such as the rights to an adequate standard of living, work, social security, the enjoyment of just and favourable conditions of work and the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Personal access to resources, wealth and privilege often acts in practice as a watershed between those who are able to engage in activism and those who are left out. Girls and young women belonging to disadvantaged and marginalized groups are often not sufficiently heard. During the consultations held by the Working Group, many activists referred to the importance of having received scholarships, support from individual sponsors or professional positions within NGOs. Bridging the gender-related digital divide 59. As demonstrated above, girls and young women are increasingly using the Internet and social media for their activism, which provide them with crucial opportunities to make their voices heard. Ensuring access to technology for all girls and young women, without discrimination, is thus a key enabler of their activism. However, many girls and young women, especially in rural, underprivileged areas, lack access to it (both physically to devices or reception and in terms of knowing how to go online) or do not have sufficient digital literacy, including on digital safety and security. Generally, more men globally are using the Internet than women.45 The digital divide, together with socioeconomic disparities and their disproportionate gendered impact, were deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has restricted online activism for girls and young women with limited facilities at home. States are expected to promote awareness of, and access to, digital means for girls and young women to express their views and offer them training and support. 46 Ensuring enjoyment of the equal right to quality education 60. Equal access to inclusive, culturally appropriate and quality education is pivotal to enable girls’ and young women’s activism.47 School curricula that include teaching on human rights, promote understanding of the harmful impact of gendered social norms and discriminatory stereotypes, and support the development of critical thinking skills, personal empowerment and solidarity, are crucial. As noted above, educational institutions are often the first environment where girls and young women can engage in decision-making processes and collective actions, develop leadership and public-speaking skills and gain self-confidence. However, in many cases children, especially girls, are expected to be passive recipients and their engagement in public life in schools is not supported. 2. Building gender- and age-sensitive normative and institutional frameworks National level 61. In some regions, various frameworks have been established to promote and ensure the engagement of children and youth, including girls and young women, in public and political life and sustain their activism. Some States have adopted specific legislation that expressly contemplates the right of children and young people to participate in decision-making processes concerning them and provides for the adoption of special measures to encourage their participation. These include a law in one country in Eastern Europe that provides for the allocation of funds and space for youth activities and projects, and a law in a Latin American country that stipulates that political parties shall include at least 25 per cent of 45 46 47 See International Telecommunication Union, “Measuring digital development: facts and figures 2021”. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, general comment No. 36 (2017) and Committee on the Rights of the Child, general comment No. 25 (2021). See Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, general comment No. 13 (1999) and Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, general recommendation No. 36 (2017). 15