International Day of the Girl Child – October 11, 2022, history, significance
International Day of the Girl Child is an annual and internationally recognized observance on October 11 that empowers girls and amplifies their voices. Like its adult version, International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, International Day of the Girl Child acknowledges the importance, power, and potential of adolescent girls by encouraging the opening up of more opportunities for them.
At the same time, this day is designated to eliminate gender-based challenges that little girls face around the world, including child marriages, poor learning opportunities, violence, and discrimination. To eliminate such discriminations Scholaroo has resources for scholarships from around the world for young girls to support their future.
The theme for this year’s aptly named “Day of the Girl Child” as it is also known, is “Digital generation. Our generation.” It provides a platform for the global community to understand the disadvantages girls face online. 2.2 billion people under the age of 25 do not have internet access, with the majority being girls.
This day seeks to celebrate the lot of girls as compared to the role of boys in many cultures, where the male of our species has better access to education and opportunities by virtue of being male. One out of four girls is unemployed, uneducated, or untrained as compared to one in every ten boys, and these are worldwide statistical records. Although we have reached a point that we recognize this day as International Girls’ Day, much still needs to be done to improve lives for girls.
History of International Day of the Girl Child
The day was initially a project designed by the non-governmental international organization, Plan International. It was inspired by their “Because I Am A Girl” campaign, which celebrated and encouraged the increasing role of girls and young women in efforts to raise awareness of gender issues across the world.
Eventually, Plan International urged the United Nations to get involved, and the first official Day of Girls took place in 2012, with a resolution backed by the international organization to cement it.
Since then, International Day of the Girl Child has been celebrated with a new theme every year. Those themes tackle the issues girls and young women face, but especially in developing nations where they don’t have as strong a voice advocating for them.
Over the years, worldwide initiatives have been taken with aims such as ending child marriage, innovating education for girls, and training young women with skills to help them excel in the workplace. Since then, thousands of events are planned every year, across the world, both sponsored by the United Nations and by independent initiatives like nonprofits and local organizations.
Every time International Day of the Girl Child comes around, groups and organizations of all sizes, as well as lone volunteers, are encouraged to raise awareness of and campaign against the discrimination and violence that girls face across the world, even with the introduction of laws, policies, and global targets meant to eliminate them.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD TIMELINE
1995
World Conference on Women
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action becomes the first progressive arrangement to advance the rights of girls.
2011
International Day of the Girl Child
As per Resolution 66/170, the United Nations adopts October 11 as International Day of the Girl Child.
2012
The Inaugural
The first year observing International Day of the Girl Child focuses on the theme of ending child marriages.
2013
The Day Gains Traction
By 2013, more than 2,043 events are celebrated on this day around the world.
2020
“My Voice, Our Equal Future”
The aim of this theme came to having equal rights, opportunities, and access to everything as boys do.
5 FACTS ABOUT THE LIFE OF GIRLS THAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW
Little girls become brides at a young age
Around 33,000 girls are married off every day around the world.
HIV is prevalent among girls
An estimated 340,000 girls and young women are infected with the virus every year and currently more than 3 million girls and young women are living with HIV all over the world.
Girls think husbands are entitled to beat wives
Around 44% of the girls between 15 to 19 years of age think it’s okay for a husband to beat his wife.
They do more unpaid child labor than boys
Girls between five to 14 spend more than 28 hours doing labor, which is twice the time spent by boys.
Girls are shamelessly trafficked for sexual exploitation
96% of human trafficked individuals for sexual exploitation are girls and women.
How to celebrate International Day of the Girl Child
As the theme of International Day of the Girl Child, and the issue they are trying to tackle, changes every year, so too does the ways that you can help.
In any case, it won’t be too difficult to find events, classes, and volunteering efforts around you that could use your attention and support.
Furthermore, everyone is encouraged to signal boost events and campaigns tied to the day through social media, spreading awareness of the cause and the issues that it’s trying to tackle.
Otherwise, there are few better days to educate yourself about the campaigns and global efforts to combat issues disproportionately affecting women, locally and abroad.
While learning, you might see some of the organizations and nonprofits near you raising funds to help women around the world. Organizing fundraisers of your own or hosting events can you way to get involved and show your support for women everywhere.
You are also likely to find local arts groups, from theatre companies to art galleries, hosting shows, exhibitions, and concerts dedicated to girls facing the issues highlighted by the day. Paying to see the show can both be a way of catching up and offering some help.
