The purpose of the Girl Award is to highlight individuals, groups or organisations in Finland who are doing significant work to promote girls' rights and gender equality. The work must aim to end human rights violations against girls and ensure that girls in all their diversity are guaranteed the right to protection and freedom of choice.
“I'm firmly in the girls' corner, and that is why this nomination means so much to me personally. As President of Tehy, I defend the interests of a female-dominated sector in a society where girls and women are still struggling for status, including in terms of pay and appreciation in society at large,” says Millariikka Rytkönen.
This year, a total of 63 individuals, communities or social influencers have been nominated for the Girl Award. From among them, Plan will nominate a shortlist of three finalists, from which the jury will choose a winner. The winner will be announced on 9 October 2025 leading up to International Day of the Girl Child (11 October 2025).
“At a time when equal rights are in retreat across the world, it is even more important to continue working for equality. As President of Tehy, I want to have an impact on equality and the position of girls in our society in a broad sense. No past achievements can be taken for granted, even in Finland, and together we must continue to persevere on the journey towards a more equal world," Rytkönen says.
This is the second time that Plan International Finland will award the Girl Award. In 2024, the Mimmit koodaa programme was recognised with the award.
The winner of the Girl Award is chosen by a jury whose members promote human rights and gender equality in different sectors of society. In 2025, the jury will be chaired by media and social media personality Sointu Borg.
You can read more about the award on the Plan International website at plan.fi/girl-award/
Further information:
Tehy President Millariikka Rytkönen, requests for interview through Special Advisor Mila Huovinen, [email protected], tel. +358 400 540 005