This is a past event
Since 2012, the United Nations marks 11 October as the 'International Day of the Girl Child'. The day promotes girls' human rights, highlights gender inequalities that remain between girls and boys and addresses the various forms of discrimination and abuse suffered by girls around the world.
About the Day
Since 2012, the United Nations marks 11 October as the ‘International Day of the Girl Child’. The day promotes girls' human rights, highlights gender inequalities that remain between girls and boys and addresses the various forms of discrimination and abuse suffered by girls around the world.
- One in three women and girls experience abuse in their lifetime.
- More than half of sexual assaults are committed against girls under 16 years of age.
- Globally, more than one in three young women aged 20-24 years are married before the age of 18.
This year’s theme for the Day is “Innovating for Girls’ Education”.
To advance one of UN Women’s key priorities of ending violence against women and girls, UN Women has partnered with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), with membership of 10 million members in 145 countries, to galvanize the potential and power of girls and young women around the world and end this pandemic. On 11 October, a unique co-educational non-formal curriculum will be launched, designed to inform, educate and empower young people aged 5 to 25.
Voices against Violence will provide tools and expertise to understand the root causes of violence, build awareness and address its cultural and social triggers. It will equip girls to educate and involve their peers and communities, to prevent such violence and learn about where to access support when needed.
Working with youth organizations, UN partners and governments, UN Women and WAGGGS will roll out the curriculum to young people around the world. It will be adapted to national context, translated into local languages, and reach an estimated five million children and young people by 2020.
Message from UN Women Executive Director
To mark the second observance of the International Day of the Girl Child, Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka calls for a world where “every girl and boy can grow up with mutual respect, dignity and equality” and emphasizes UN Women's commitment to stand up for the rights of girls worldwide.Read her statement here.
- See more at: http://www.unwomen.org/co/news/in-focus/girl-child#sthash.sSE9EzCe.dpuf
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- United Nations
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