On International Women’s Day, Girls Inc. commends the Biden Administration for issuing two executive orders today. First, we are in full support of the order directing the Department of Education to review the harmful Title IX policy issued last year. Those regulations—which encourage schools to ignore school sexual harassment and assault and are likely to decrease reporting by student survivors—were opposed not only by women’s groups and survivors, but also by universities and K-12 school administrators. They must be replaced, and schools must be given the support to create climates that are safe and conducive to learning for all students.

Additionally, the establishment of the White House Gender Policy Council as part of the Executive Office of the President is exactly the step we need to move girls and women forward. This cross-agency collaboration will help ensure that the work of the federal government advances gender equity and girls’ and women’s rights and opportunities. Girls Inc. stands ready to work with the Council to lift up the voices of girls and change the conditions in which girls are growing up. When we support and equip girls and young women to succeed, our entire nation benefits.