Lebanese Journalist and Politician Nayla Tueni: Champion of Press Freedom & Women's Rights

Right now, as I’m writing this, the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is happening in New York. At this meeting, world leaders are discussing some of the biggest problems facing the planet—climate change, poverty, and yes, peace and security. And guess what? Girls are missing in this conversation where our future is being decided....Recently, I had the honor of moderating a fireside conversation on one of the most important topics—peace and security around the world.

Nayla Tueni , a journalist and political leader from Lebanon, and it was really inspiring! Nayla started working in journalism when she was just 20, but her journey wasn’t easy. She faced a lot of challenges, including the death of her father when she was 22. Despite all the difficulties, Nayla has been a strong voice for press freedom and women's rights in a country with many political challenges.

She shared how, through her newspaper, she has campaigned for equality and highlighted women’s roles in Lebanon’s protests. One of the coolest things they did was change the national anthem by adding a word to honor women’s contributions. Nayla also talked about her efforts to keep up with digital changes in the media, like using social media and fighting fake news.

One thing that stood out to me was when Nayla talked about how women, especially in Lebanon, are like a "buffer zone" in protests, keeping things calm and standing up for their communities. It reminded me how powerful and important women can be in creating change.

Nayla talked about her experiences growing up in a country like Lebanon, which has gone through so much conflict. She became a journalist at a very young age, taking over her family’s newspaper after her father was tragically killed. Hearing her story made me feel empowered. She faced so many challenges but didn’t give up, and her work has helped create more freedom and equality, not just in Lebanon but for people around the world.

What she said about women being the "buffer zone" in protests stuck with me. In the middle of conflict, it’s often women and girls who step in to calm things down and push for peace.

This is happening at the same time as the United Nations General Assembly 79, where leaders are trying to figure out how to make the world a safer place.

Why Girls Must Lead Now

As Nayla said, it’s not just about standing up for women’s rights—it’s about creating gender harmony, where both boys and girls, men and women, can work together to build a better world. When we, as girls, are included in leadership roles, it changes the entire conversation. We focus on making sure everyone is heard, we care about the long-term impacts, and we know that real security isn’t just about ending violence—it’s about building a world where everyone can thrive.

So here’s my message to all the other girls out there: don’t wait until you’re "older" to lead. Start now. The world needs our voices, and we are more than ready to help shape a future of peace and security for everyone.

Let’s do this together! ????

#UNGA #UNGA79 #UnitedNations #Nayla Tueni