International Day of the Girl Child
Defending women’s rights starts with respecting girls’ rights. This is why we celebrate, every October 11, the International Day of the Girl Child rights. This day is a strong moment of mobilization around the world, so that all the girls of today can become free women tomorrow.
The History of International Day of the Girl Child
In September 1995, on the occasion of the 4th World Conference on Women, representatives of 189 governments and more than 30,000 activists from around the world adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, an emblematic text of the fight for gender equality and the emancipation of women. This text is also the first to highlight the importance of respecting the rights of girls.
In order to truly and sustainably inscribe the fight for girls’ rights in the collective consciousness, Plan International has succeeded in obtaining from the UN, the creation of the International Day of Girls’ Rights every October 11th. Since 2012, this day has been dedicated to girls and respect for their rights.
However, this day has, since its creation, very low visibility in France and around the world, unlike International Women’s Day on March 8 and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25.
The invisibilization of this day is indicative of the lack of consideration given to the rights of minors. However, violence against girls persists, and inequalities between girls and boys continue into adulthood between women and men.
Read also: World Day | List of International Days and Weeks
Objectives why we need to mobilize on International Girls’ Day?
All over the world, these inequalities, discriminations and violence impede the rights of girls and have serious consequences on their lives.
This event aims to support the improvement of future prospects for young girls and to raise awareness of the inequalities they suffer throughout the world because of their gender.
Read also: International Women’s Day | Why is it important to celebrate this date?
These inequalities relate in particular to access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, protection against discrimination and:
- Violence
- Sexist and sexual violence.
- Early pregnancies.
- Forced marriage.
- Deschooling,
- Circumcisions
- Operation
- Slavery
- Child labor.
- No tolerance for violence against girls and young women in the name of tradition or culture.
Sources: PinterPandai, United Nation, Plan International, UNESCO
Photo credit: natureworks via Pixabay
