New Delhi: International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated on October 11 to empower girls and amplify their voices. Like International Women’s Day on March 8, this day acknowledges adolescent girls’ importance, power, and potential.
It aims to create more opportunities for girls and eliminate gender-based challenges such as child marriages, limited learning opportunities, violence, and discrimination. Scholaroo provides resources for scholarships from around the world to support the future of young girls and eliminate such discrimination.
On International Day of the Girl Child, let us examine this year’s theme and its meaning.
International Day of the Girl: What is the theme for this year, and what does it mean?
The theme for the 2024 International Day of the Girl is ‘Girls’ vision for the future’, emphasising the urgency for action and unwavering hope driven by girls’ voices and aspirations. Today’s young girls are disproportionately impacted by global crises such as climate change, conflict, and poverty and face setbacks in the fight for human rights and gender equality.
Despite these challenges, recent analysis reveals that girls show remarkable courage in times of crisis and remain hopeful for the future. They take steps daily to bring their vision of a world where they are protected, respected, and empowered to live.
However, they cannot achieve this vision alone; they need allies who will listen and respond to their needs. With the necessary support, resources, and opportunities, the potential of the world’s more than 1.1 billion girls is boundless.
When girls take the lead, the impact is immediate and far-reaching, leading to stronger families, communities, and economies, ultimately creating a brighter future for all. It’s time to heed the voices of girls and invest in proven solutions that will accelerate progress towards a future where every girl can realise her full potential.
International Day of the Girl Child: When did the day start?
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted unanimously in 1995 at the World Conference on Women in Beijing, marked a significant milestone in advancing women’s and girls’ rights. Notably, it was the first document to address girls’ rights explicitly. Subsequently, on December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 66/170, designating October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child. This annual observance aims to raise awareness about the unique challenges girls face globally and promote their empowerment and fulfilment of their human rights. The progress made in advancing girls’ rights is a beacon of hope for a more equitable future.
The International Day of the Girl Child serves as a platform to address the obstacles girls encounter, advocating for their rights and offering support for their education, safety, and overall well-being during their formative teenage years. By effectively supporting girls during this critical period, we can help them realise their full potential, empowering them to become influential individuals in various spheres of society, including as future workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household leaders, and political figures.
Investing in adolescent girls upholds their rights today and promises a more fair and prosperous future. This will create a world where everyone, including girls, is equal in addressing challenges such as climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention, and global sustainability.
Girls are challenging stereotypes and barriers, including those faced by children with disabilities and those living in marginalised communities.
As innovators, leaders and entrepreneurs of global movements, girls around the world are playing a crucial role in shaping a relevant world for themselves and future generations.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by world leaders in 2015, consists of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that serve as a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable progress, leaving no one behind.
Gender equality and women’s empowerment are integral to all 17 goals. By guaranteeing the rights of women and girls across all aspects of the goals, we can strive towards justice and inclusion, create economies that work for everyone, and ensure the sustainability of our shared environment for present and future generations.
Girls have the right to a healthy, safe, and educated life. International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated on October 11 to raise awareness about girls’ potential and to address the issues they face worldwide. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
