harassment of girls in schools. textbooks was noted. The paucity of role models for girls in 43. Reference was made to prevailing negative cultural and traditional attitudes and practices that often stood in the way of equal treatment of girls. Some of those attitudes and practices, combined with traditional role models maintained by families, discouraged girls’ career development, their participation in social and political life, and their access to recreational activities and sports. A preference for sons continued in many countries, leading to discrimination against girls, often even before birth, and to such practices as female infanticide and prenatal sex selection. 44. The situation of girls living in poor economic conditions was mentioned by a number of speakers. Those girls were often the most marginalized. They were often forced to take up low-paid work or to become prostitutes. They often became domestic workers, were paid very little, and were subjected to abuse and exploitation. 45. In rural areas, unpaid domestic work was frequently expected from girls, preventing them from going to school or developing skills suited to incomeearning activities. Moreover, their contribution to household work was often undervalued. Since globalization contributed to the further impoverishment of rural areas in many developing countries, out-migration by adults had increased and had led to an increase in girls’ domestic labour and responsibilities. 46. In traditional cultures, families generally maintained the traditional roles of males and females. Since the empowerment of girls started in the family, families needed to recognize the rights and specific needs of the girl child beyond the traditional cultural framework. 47. The particular needs of adolescent girls resulting from the transitional and developmental nature of their physical and emotional states were acknowledged. Adolescent girls and boys needed to be given adequate information on sexual and reproductive health, and it was necessary to help counsellors who dealt with adolescents to be gender-sensitive. It was also important for national Governments and the international community to recognize that the health needs of girls were generally different from those of boys. Traditional practices that were harmful to girls’ health, such as female genital mutilation, should be eliminated. Adolescent girls should be empowered and supported by their families and communities to take control of their physical well-being and educational attainment. 48. Reference was made to girls affected by armed conflict and to refugee girls. Where the family system was no longer functioning, many children were left without parents or primary caregivers. Concerns were expressed that girls in such circumstances were particularly vulnerable to rape and sexual violence, for example, in refugee camps or when fleeing their home countries. 49. Personnel involved in peacekeeping and humanitarian activities should be sensitized to the specific needs of girl children and should not exploit them. Attention was drawn to young girls’ serving as soldiers, a phenomenon that seemed to be on the increase and one on which more data and research were required. 50. Much concern was expressed about trafficking and the sexual abuse of girls, including the growing sex industry, and on child pornography, including the use of the Internet in that regard. Rehabilitation of the victims of sexual abuse -72-