International Day Of The Girl Child
October 11, 2016
International Day of Girl Child is observed worldwide on October 11 annually. The day was declared by the United Nations. The first observance was in the year 2012.
International Day of the Girl Child was formally proposed as a resolution by Canada in the United Nations General Assembly. On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly voted to pass a resolution adopting October 11, 2012 as the inaugural International Day of the Girl Child.
The day is observed to provide more opportunities for girls in areas such as right to education, access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care and to protect them against violence and unfree child marriage. The main purpose is to increase awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide based upon their gender. The International Day of the Girl Child initiative began as a project of Plan International, a non-governmental organization that operates worldwide.
There are 1.1 billion girls today who are brimming with talent and creativity. But their dreams and potential are often restricted by discrimination, violence and lack of equal opportunities.
The biggest issue that is blocking the girls’ progress is child marriage. One in three girls in developing countries (except China) get married before they turn 18. Girls who are child brides miss out on education, are more vulnerable to physical and sexual violence, and bear children before they are physically or emotionally prepared.
Yet another horrible and painful procedure that is prevalent even now in Africa, the Middle East and Asia is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). More than 200 million girls and women alive today have been mutilated. This procedure can cause severe bleeding and problems urinating, and later cysts, infections, as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of new-born deaths.
The theme for this year’s International Day of the Girl Child is “Girls’ Progress = Goals’ Progress: A Global Girl Data Movement”.
Source: www.en.wikipedia.org / www.unwomen.org / www.who.int
Image Credit: www.www.askideas.com / www.karipatterson.com
