Members lobby at the UN

Two Girlguiding members have flown out to Rio in Brazil to start preparing for a United Nations conference on sustainable development.

Phillipa Gardner and Maggie Simmons are attending the event 'Rio+20' from 20 to 22 June, which will bring together world leaders, private organisations and NGOs to discuss the world’s future. They will be working alongside women in guiding around the world as part of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).

'I’m going to Rio to make sure the voice of girls and young women is heard in the creation of what will replace them after 2015,' said Phillipa.

'Girls and women are disproportionately affected by climate change and environmental issues, so it's incredibly important that WAGGGS are there representing our 10 million members and the wider female population,' said Maggie.

This is Maggie's first event, while Phillipa has previously attended the Young Women's World Forum, held in the UK, and the Commission on the Status of Women at the UN in both 2011 and 2012.

Find out more about the event, the WAGGGS delegation and what Girlguiding UK’s members have been doing.

If you’re a Girlguiding member and would like to represent Girlguiding internationally, visit our Global Opportunities pages to learn more.