Indian actor, producer and UN Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza has drawn attention to the urgent link between girls’ safety and freedom of movement, marking National Girl Child Day and National Tourism Day with a powerful call for gender-responsive action. Through her statement, Mirza underscored that true progress in tourism and urban development cannot be celebrated unless girls and women can move freely without fear.

Dia Mirza highlights public safety concerns for girls

“A girl who feels safe enough to travel independently today becomes the woman who will move through the world with confidence tomorrow. And yet, for far too many of our girls, public spaces come with a “safety tax”  a price paid in fear, in lost time, in constantly calculating routes, clothes, hours… and in dreams that quietly shrink before they even take flight.“