Every year, on October 11th, the International Day of the Girl Child serves as a powerful platform advocating for the empowerment of girls worldwide.
This significant day,
celebrated globally, aims to empower girls and amplify their voices. The theme
for 2023 is "Invest in Girls' Freedoms: Our Leadership, Our
Prosperity." On this day, UNICEF reaffirms its commitment to supporting
girls and safeguarding their rights.
In a statement, the
United Nations emphasized the need to move beyond mere commitments and invest
boldly in the actions necessary for change. Many girls are already championing
policies and driving change in their communities, highlighting the urgency for
collective action.
United Nations
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the importance of investing in
girls' leadership to help them achieve their goals and promote gender equality.
He stated, "Women and girls can lead us to a fairer future. Let's amplify
girls' voices and recommit to working together to build a world where every
girl can lead and thrive."
Background
In 1995, at the World Conference on Women in Beijing, countries unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most progressive agenda for advancing the rights of women and girls. The Beijing Declaration specifically addresses girls' rights. On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170, declaring October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, recognizing girls' rights and the unique challenges they face worldwide.
Significance
The International Day
of the Girl Child draws attention to the need to address the challenges girls
face and promotes their empowerment and the fulfillment of their fundamental
rights. Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life
not only during their formative years but also as they transition into
adulthood.
When supported
effectively during adolescence, girls have the potential to transform the
world—as empowered young women of today and as future leaders, professionals,
mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, and political figures. Investing in the power
of adolescent girls upholds their rights today and ensures a more equitable and
prosperous future. It paves the way for a world where half of humanity is an
equal partner in addressing issues such as climate change, political conflicts,
economic growth, disease prevention, and global sustainability.
According to the United
Nations, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by world leaders in 2015, provide a roadmap
for sustainable progress that leaves no one behind. Achieving gender equality
and empowering women and girls are crucial to all 17 goals. Only by ensuring
the rights of women and girls across all the goals can we achieve justice and
inclusion, economies that work for everyone, and preserve our shared
environment for present and future generations.
