The Canadian Press
WASHINGTON–Sophie Gregoire Trudeau kicked off a United Nations-led girls’ conference in Washington with a pep talk today, urging young women to believe in themselves and in their ability to shape the world.
The prime minister’s wife referred to her own past eating disorder, and talked about the ways young girls often lack confidence in their appearance or in their ability.
She opened the Girl Up Leadership Summit urging the hundreds of young women in attendance to fight back against that lack of confidence.
She also promoted Canadian international development programs, tailored to helping women.
Gregoire Trudeau said it’s a basic economic truism that societies with empowered women are more prosperous.
“When women rise, men rise, as well . . . it’s based on facts,” she noted.
“We have more women in the boardroom, more women in classrooms, more women in community life, we can inject peace,” she added.
“We can inject compassion.”
She delivered a string of extemporaneous remarks, wandering around the stage as she spoke off-the-cuff, and got an ovation from the crowd at the beginning and end.
