David Beckham on Empowering Young Girls: "Girls Are Held Back"
Former footballer David Beckham has called on members of the World Economic Forum to fight for girls’ rights in an impassioned speech on Monday.
The 49-year-old retired athlete, who accepted an award for his two decades of work as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, emphasized the challenges faced by young girls worldwide that prevent them from reaching their full potential.
“Today, there are more children in need and at risk than at any time in recent history and it is always the most vulnerable children who face the biggest challenges — especially girls,” he said.
"Girls are held back by poverty, girls are held back by violence, girls are held back by discrimination," David explained, emphasizing the importance of providing opportunities, collective action and investment.
As a father of “three boys and one beautiful girl,” David shared that he wants his daughter Harper Beckham, 13, to be given the same opportunities as her three brothers—25-year-old Brooklyn, 22-year-old Romeo, and 19-year-old Cruz—who he shares with his wife Victoria Beckham.
“Being a girl shouldn’t determine what you can do, where you can go, and who you can become,” said the former footballer, stating that young girls represent the “largest generation of future leaders and innovators” that the world has ever known.
“What an exciting prospect if we can unlock their potential and support their development,” he added.
David Beckham is a longstanding advocate of girls rights. In 2023, the former footballer visited India, speaking to young girls and women who were breaking barriers and bringing change to their communities.
During the visit, David met 21-year-old Rinku Pravibhai, who called off her engagement and went on to pursue a nursing degree at a local college. Speaking to the experience, David said, “As a father of a young daughter, I was deeply moved to meet Rinku and other young girls who are fighting for change at an early age and having a say in their futures.”
“Rinku is a role model for other girls who want to complete their education and fulfil their potential,” he added.
On International Women's Day last year, David took to social media to share a series of photos from the trip, praising the "amazing and inspiring young people" he'd met.
"This International Women's Day is a reminder that investing in the health, education and rights of adolescent girls can create a positive ripple effect across the world." he captioned.