October 11 marks International Day of the girl child: To save a girl is to save generations!” Gordon B. Hinckley
To acknowledge the importance power and potential of girls and to promote their welfare by opening more opportunities International Day of Girl Child is observed annually and globally on October 11.
It is an attempt to eliminate gender-based challenges that girls worldwide face attaining equal rights to virginity while fighting discrimination and often violence against them. Malala Yousafzai has rightly said We cannot all succeed when half of us is held back. We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave – to embrace the strength within themselves and realise their full potential.”
History of this day! Beijing declaration 1995
At the world conference on women in Beijing, it was the first time it was recognised that there was a need to address issues faced by adolescent girls worldwide.
“Because I am a girl” was an international non-governmental organisation’s campaign designed to you know 4 girls, especially from developing countries promote their rights and bring them out of our poverty. International Day of Girl child emerged as an idea during this campaign. Took governmental form when this idea was forwarded to the Canadian federal Government and ultimately involved the UN.
Consequently, on December 19, 2011, the UN general assembly on the proposal of Canada passed a resolution recognising October 11, 2012, as the inaugural day of the International Day of the girl child. The theme of this was centred around child marriages.
Importance of celebrating this day
1. Empowering girls
2. Eliminating gender-based issues
3. empowered girls grow up to be empowered women
“And though she is but little, she is fierce.” -William Shakespeare
The little girls of today are going to be the leaders of tomorrow. They should be encouraged, appreciated and uplifted. Girls are brought up with deep-rooted stigma and discrimination in society. This needs to stop now.
International Day of Girl 2022 Theme: “Our time is now—our rights, our future“
In these last 10 years, there has been increased attention on issues that matter to girls amongst policymakers, governments, and the general public, and more opportunities for girls to have their voices heard on the global stage. Yet, investments in girls’ rights remain limited and girls continue to confront a myriad of challenges to fulfilling their potential; made worse by concurrent crises of COVID-19, climate change, and humanitarian conflict.
With adversity, however, comes creativity, resourcefulness, tenacity, and resilience. The world’s 600 million adolescent girls have shown time and time again that given the skills and the opportunities, they can be the changemakers driving progress in their communities, building back stronger for all, including, boys, women and men.
How you can participate in International Day of Girl Child?
1. Sharing stories, blogs, and videos of inspiring adolescent girls.
2. Amplify the reason and need to address the gender and digital divide.
3. Actively participating in the theme.
4. Appreciating and making girls around you feel safe.
“Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts. That’s what little girls are made of; the heck with sugar and spice.” -Bethany Hamilton
Edit- Ayushi Mittal
