International Day of the Girl Child
International Day of the Girl Child - an international observance day declared by the United Nations. October 11, 2012 is the first Day of the Girl. The observation supports more opportunity for girls, and increases awareness of inequality faced by girls worldwide based upon their gender. This inequality includes areas such as access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and protection from discrimination, violence and unfree child marriage.
History
International Day of the Girl Child was formally proposed as a resolution by Canada in the United Nations General Assembly. Rona Ambrose, Canada's Minister for the Status of Women, sponsored the resolution; a delegation of women and girls made presentations in support of the initiative at the 55th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. 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 resolution states that the Day of the Girl recognizes the empowerment of and investment in girls, which are critical for economic growth, the achievement of all Millennium Development Goals, including the eradication of poverty and extreme poverty, as well as the meaningful participation of girls in decisions that affect them, are key in breaking the cycle of discrimination and violence and in promoting and protecting the full and effective enjoyment of their human rights, and recognizing also that empowering girls requires their active participation in decision-making processes and the active support and engagement of their parents, legal guardians, families and care providers, as well as boys and men and the wider community.
Background
The International Day of the Girl Child gives people and organizations the opportunity to raise public awareness of the different types of discrimination and abuse that many girls around the world suffer from. On this day, many community and political leaders talk to the public about the importance of girls’ right to equal education and their fundamental freedoms. Various events are held to showcase the work that people are doing to empower girls through active support and engagement with parents, families, and the wider community.
The International Day of the Girl Child is a UN observance and not a public holiday.
Discrimination and violence against girls and violations of their human rights still happen. The UN felt a need to raise awareness of the challenges that millions of girls face every day. In December 2011, the UN declared that it would annually observe the International Day of the Girl Child, starting from October 11, 2012.
The term “girl child” is commonly used abroad to distinguish the unique challenges faced by those under age 18 from those faced by women.
ReplyDeleteWhy is this day important? Equal opportunity for girls is good for all of us.Girls throughout the world face higher rates of violence, poverty, discrimination. In Canada, girls have higher rates of depression, sexual harassment and dating violence.There is a growing recognition around the world that support for girls and their basic human rights is key for healthy communities.Improving girls' lives has a ripple effect. What is good for them is good for all of us.This international day will promote equal treatment and opportunities for girls around the world in areas such as law, nutrition, health care, education, training, and freedom from violence and abuse.
Today, October 11, the world celebrates the first ever “International Day of the Girl Child” but too many commemorations will ignore the violence of sex selection abortion as the three most dangerous words in the world continue to be “It’s a girl.”
ReplyDeleteThe United Nations resolution designating the day is designed to end the cycle of discrimination that prevents girls from receiving an education, having access to health care and a nutritional diet and eliminate the violence and abuse that impacts their lives. But the cycle of discrimination will only be broken when the very first act of violence against a girl— identification and destruction in the womb through sex selection abortion—is eliminated around the world.
The International Day of the Girl Child gives people and organizations the opportunity to raise public awareness of the different types of discrimination and abuse that many girls around the world suffer from. On this day, many community and political leaders talk to the public about the importance of girls’ right to equal education and their fundamental freedoms. Various events are held to showcase the work that people are doing to empower girls through active support and engagement with parents, families, and the wider community.
Discrimination and violence against girls and violations of their human rights still happen. The UN felt a need to raise awareness of the challenges that millions of girls face every day. In December 2011, the UN declared that it would annually observe the International Day of the Girl Child, starting from October 11, 2012.
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Deleteall this information is mentioned above by me)
DeleteSchool Girls Unite and the Day of the Girl campaign are now pursuing a long-term goal to achieve local proclamations in all 3,143 counties and each of the 50 states, as well as a Presidential Proclamation that would mirror the recent UN resolution. The mission of the National Day of the Girl campaign is to engage girls in civic leadership before age 18, empowering girls to make the changes they want to see in the world.
ReplyDeleteSample Request:
Dear Councilmember [insert last name]:
We are very excited that the United Nations recently
established October 11 as the annual International Day
of the Girl. Today there are many more opportunities for
girls but serious problems continue. We believe an official
proclamation can help raise awareness about this
girls’ rights day and increase attention on specific issues.
We would like to schedule a time to meet with you to discuss
the possibility of a Day of the Girl proclamation and
share our proposed language. We hope to hear back from
you soon. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
[Your full name]
[Name of your group/organization]
[Street address, city, state, zip code]
http://dayofthegirl.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DayOfTheGirlToolkitSept2012.pdf
[Telephone and email]
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ReplyDeleteIn observance of the 2012 International Day of the Girl Child, a High-Level panel discussion co-organized by UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women and Girls Not Brides, took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Thursday, 11 October 2012. A panel of experts will discuss how to make progress on girls’ rights and address the unique challenges they face, with a focus on ending child marriage.
ReplyDelete