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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – On Oct. 8, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Girl Delegates to the United Nations arrived in New York City for events surrounding the International Day of the Girl.
With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, and with thanks to the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Foundation and the National Philoptochos, Inc., the GOARCH Girl Delegates program provides a platform for young women to address issues related to the rights of girls around the world, their individual rights, and their beliefs at the United Nations.
> Previously: How the Archdiocese’s Girl Delegate Program shaped one woman’s path
The International Day of the Girl stems from the adoption of the Beijing declaration. In 1995 at the World Conference on Women in Beijing, countries unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, identifying the rights of girls. On December 19, 2011, United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child.
The celebrations at the United Nations empower girls to lead the charge in advocating their rights worldwide. These rights include health, safety, and education during their formative years and maturity into womanhood.
On Oct. 8, the GOARCH Girl Delegates attended a workshop celebrating the rich legacy of Greek women’s advocacy and explored the cultural roles of women from antiquity to the modern era. Taught by Dimitris Carabas of Meraki Laographic Arts, the workshop included a special focus on the Thracian tradition of the Babo, a matriarchal celebration honoring female wisdom and healing.
The session also featured immersive instruction in regional dances including the Pontian Atsapat Mazera, the Thracian Tapeinos, the Cretan Lazotis, and the Smyrnaikan Foties, powerful non-traditional choreography symbolizing the burning of Smyrna and performed exclusively by women.
The workshop also highlighted the influential work of Doran Stratou and Domna Samiou, two pioneering women who preserved and elevated Greek traditional music and dance, inspiring future generations to honor and carry these cultural narratives forward.
The following day, Girl Delegates attended the Forum on Faith, held at the Marriott Marquis hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The inaugural gathering allowed religious leaders, government leaders, businesspeople, and legal scholars of various faith backgrounds to engage in fruitful conversations about the role of faith in strengthening our communities, fostering unity, and providing collaborative solutions in a divided world.
Among the attendees were Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York; Rabbi Joseph Potasnik of the New York Board of Rabbis; Elder David R. Marriott of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ; retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer; and President Emeritus of New York University John Sexton.
The Girl Delegates had a special opportunity to speak with Cardinal Dolan and Rabbi Potasnik about their roles partnering with girl-focused organizations from around the world, gaining firsthand experience in international relations, global policy discussions, and public leadership.
The girls also attended the breakout group session “Solving Social Problems,” which included panelists Caura Richardson (The NYS Office of Faith & Nonprofit Development Services), Haris Tarin (Muslim Public Affairs Council), Sylvie Sun (Buddhist Global Relief), and Justin Dyer (Professor of Religion, Brigham Young University) as well as moderator Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer (Interfaith Center of New York).
The panelists discussed the misconception that religion is a problem rather than a solution in society. Each panelist presented initiatives and findings from their organization on how religion can bring us together, despite our differences.
In the afternoon, the Girl Delegates took a tour of the U.N. headquarters ahead of their participation in the Girls Speak Out: Girl Action Conference & Townhall on Oct. 10.
Girls Speak Out was a significant convening of girls who are leading advocates for the universal protection of girls’ rights. Among the moderators was Girl Delegate Demetra Eleni Parasirakis, who began the program by introducing Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly of the U.N.
President Baerbock encouraged the girls to continue to use their voice to uplift one another. She also recognized the absence of girls whose rights are being abridged, including girls in Afghanistan.
The event included an artistic performance by the Greek American Folklore Society–a group of girls who utilize Greek folk dance as a vehicle for advocacy and social justice. The dancers performed Giatzilariani and Ainte Oples, traditional dances with influences of Greece and Asia Minor.
The dances are an exhibition of intergenerational and cross-border cultural transmission. Through these traditional dances, girls remain connected to the legacy of the women that came before them. Using dance as a vehicle for advocacy and social justice, the girls learned their voices and bodies carry power, and cultural traditions can be tools for liberation and pride.
Girl Delegate Markella Nacopoulos was invited to speak on the importance of girls continuing to stand together in commemorating this 30-year milestone of the Beijing Declaration.
“In Greek, we have a word: “αλληλεγγύη” which means solidarity, but the root words are “αλληλ ” (“mutual”) and “εγγύηση” (“guarantee”),” Markella shared. “So we need to spread the word to girls in crisis: stick together, help each other, and we can mutually guarantee a better future.”
“Most barriers are out of our control. But most barriers are not counting on us setting aside our cultural, religious, and geographic differences to unite as a collective. In a world where we are expected and encouraged to compete for the grossly inadequate number of seats at the table, let us pull up more chairs.”
Among the speakers at the town hall were Michael Gort, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Canada to the U.N.; Aslı Güven, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Türkiye to the U.N.; Gustavo Lino Adrianzén Olaya, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Peru to the U.N.; Lauren Rumble, UNICEF’s Associate Director of Gender Equality; Cecile Mazzacurati, Gender Advisor at the U.N. Population Fund, Programme Liaison Branch; and Lopa Banerjee, Director of the Civil Society Division at U.N. Women.
At the conclusion of the event, the member states and U.N. agencies engaged in a call to recommit to working with girls to build a world where every girl lives free from violence and discrimination, with equal access to quality education, health, and opportunity.
In the evening, the Girl Delegates hosted a dinner conversation featuring Christina Hioureas, Global Co-Chair of the U.N. Practice Group at Foley Hoag. They were joined by their parents as well as Fr. Nicolas Kazarian, Director of the GOARCH Department of Ecumenical, Interfaith, and Inter-Orthodox Relations; Niki Devaris-Morgulis, Director of the Girl Delegate program; and Harry Parks, Program Coordinator and Special Assistant to the Director of the Department of Ecumenical, Interfaith, and Inter-Orthodox Relations.
Hioureas spoke with the girls about her international legal career and experience with foreign relations. She encouraged the girls to continue on their paths, remain involved in their cultural and faith communities, and maintain their advocacy for young women.
The three days were a unique opportunity for Girl Delegates from across the country–from New York to Oklahoma–to come together in fellowship and honor the work they do year-round. The girls will return to New York in March for the Spring Program featuring the 70th Commission on the Status of Women at the U.N.
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