If I were Prime Minister: I'd make sure half of Parliament was female, and have a zero tolerance approach to sexual harassment

Our series in the run-up to the General Election – 100 days, 100 contributors, but no politicians – continues with the Chief Guide of Girlguiding

If I were Prime Minister I would champion girls and young women and make sure their voices are heard at the very top of our government. I’d also make it my mission to bring fun and adventure to all of the country's young women, fuelling their confidence and aspirations.

To represent girls’ voices I’d set up a monthly female-only cabinet meeting, and consult with young women from all over the UK. Just like Girlguiding meetings, girls would take the lead at these discussions. They would set the agenda and have their say on the policy decisions affecting their lives. I know they would have a lot to talk about.

It’s not easy growing up as a girl today. Sadly inequality, sexism and harassment remain a daily reality for many young women in the UK. Girls are also facing enormous pressure to look and behave a certain way, which isn't helped by the constant barrage of unhealthy, stereotyped images of women they see all across the media.

Meanwhile, you just have to look at the current make-up of Parliament to see that women remain woefully underrepresented in positions of power. This needs to change. Girls want to live in a world where they are treated with respect, where they are judged not on their looks but on the strength of their talents and where they are guaranteed equal opportunities with men.

Ahead of the General Election, girls are calling on politicians to sign up to eight policy asks that will improve their lives through their Girls Matter campaign. As Prime Minister I would make sure these asks become a reality.

Listening to girls, I would demand that schools take a zero-tolerance approach to sexual bullying and harassment in schools. I would also make sure that women are equally represented in Parliament by the 2020 General Election, and that we play our part to protect and promote girls’ rights across the world.

I would also set up a girls’ and young women’s advisory panel to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport – empowering girls to speak out and be heard on the impact of media sexism and stereotyping. As Prime Minister I’d also make it my mission to encourage more young women to vote, as it’s so important they make their voices heard.

So I’d have plenty on my "to do" list – but I’d still find time for fun! From zorbing to abseiling, I find it so inspiring watching girls as young as seven get out of their comfort zone and take on challenges. To prove they can match up to Brownies, I’d hold an adventure away day for my cabinet – making sure they all go down a zip-wire.

I'd also want my cabinet to go and see guiding groups making a positive difference all over the UK, from holding peer education sessions on body confidence, to planting trees in their local parks. I would recruit them as fellow volunteers to help reduce our waiting list of 80,000 girls, and ensure we can change even more lives.

The girls I meet in guiding are changing the world for the better every day. So as Prime Minister, I’d work to help even more girls into places of power, so they can change the world for everyone.

Gill Slocombe is Girlguiding’s Chief Guide. She leads Girlguiding’s half a million members across the UK.