David Beckham urges Davos leaders to fight for girls’ rights
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Beckham told the World Economic Forum girls were held back by violence, poverty and discrimination. David Beckham has made an impassioned speech urging global leaders to fight for women’s rights during an address at Davos. The ex-England footballer was honoured with a Crystal Award at the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Switzerland on Monday, for his “extraordinary leadership and humanitarianism” in protecting “the rights of the most vulnerable children”.
![[The ex-England footballer was honoured with a Crystal Award at the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Switzerland]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/20/22/SEI236710875.jpg)
On route to collecting the award, Unicef goodwill ambassador Beckham hugged Melanie Brown, the former Spice Girls bandmate of his wife Victoria Beckham – with whom he shares four children. “Today, there are more children in need and at risk than any time in recent history, and it is always the most vulnerable children who face the biggest challenges – especially girls,” 49-year-old Beckham said on stage.
![[Beckham said that the female adolescent population represent the ‘largest generation of future leaders and innovators that the world has ever known’]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/20/22/SEI236710781.jpg)
“Girls are held back by poverty, girls are held back by violence, girls are held back by discrimination. “I’m lucky enough to be a father of three boys and one beautiful girl. “I want my daughter Harper to have the same opportunities as her brothers, and that should be the case for all girls everywhere.
“Being a girl shouldn’t determine what you can do, where you can go, and who you can become.”. Beckham said that the female adolescent population represent the “largest generation of future leaders and innovators that the world has ever known”.
