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International Day of the Girl Child
Dear Editor,
“Every girl, everywhere, deserves equality, opportunity, and dignity.”- UN Secretary-General, António Guterres.
Historically and culturally, girls have been regarded as less important. In some cultures, female fetuses are aborted as girls as seen as a burden on families. This entrenched discrimination against girls has grown over the years. In Afghanistan girls are not permitted to have an education beyond grade 6. Alarmingly, 80% of school-aged Afghan girls and women are out of school. Many are forced in marriages. This retrograde policy by the Taliban controlled government has restricted and suspended the human rights of girls. Across the globe gender equality is frowned upon, giving rise to a rigid culture of patriarchy and controlled over the bodies and minds of girls. Too many girls do not a safe space whether at home or at school. Oftentimes schools are sites for conflict and trauma. Girls are frequently bullied and abused. Unfortunately, in many spaces, bullying has become normalised. This permissive culture of bullying in educational institutions runs counter to many girls achieving their true potential. On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognise girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.
The day is set aside to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights. This year’s theme is, “The girl I am, the change I lead.” Unquestionably, achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is integral to each of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during their formative years, but also as they mature into women. If effectively supported and educated, girls have the potential to change the world both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, political leaders, and mothers. An investment in realising the power of girls upholds their rights today and promises a more equitable and prosperous future, one in which half of humanity is an equal partner in solving the problems of climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention, and global sustainability. While gender equality has made much needed and positive strides forward, there is so much further to go. The UN adds, globally, 650 million girls and women alive today have experienced sexual violence in childhood. Nearly one in five girls are married during childhood.
Adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 are still twice as likely to not be in education, employment or training. In addition to being a basic human rights, gender equality is essential to fostering peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development. Moreover, it has been shown that empowering women spurs productivity and economic growth. Unfortunately, there is still a long way to go to achieve full equality of rights and opportunities between men and women. On this the International Day of the Girl Day let us collectively use our platforms to give a voice and safe space to girls many of whom are marginalised. Let us imagine a world where girls are empowered to become agents of change. On this special day of the Girl, the global community should encourage girls to speak out but also to share girls’ achievements, triumphs, and contributions as we build towards a brighter and more equitable future for girls everywhere. Happy, International Day of the Girl.
In the words of the United Nations, all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights
and that “everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, birth or other status.
Regards,
Wayne Campbell
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