International Day of the Girl Child

International Day of the Girl Child is an international observance day declared by the United Nations; it is also called the Day of the Girl and the International Day of the Girl. October 11, 2012, was the first Day of the Girl. The observation supports more opportunity for girls and increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide based upon their gender. This inequality includes areas such as right to education/access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and protection from discrimination, violence against women, etc. The celebration of the day also “reflects the successful emergence of girls and young women as a distinct cohort in development policy, programming, campaigning and research”.

The idea for an international day of observance and celebration grew out of Plan International’s “Because I Am a Girl” campaign, which raises awareness about the importance of nurturing girls globally and in developing countries in particular. 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 theme for the year 2016 was “Girls’ Progress = Goals’ Progress: What Counts for Girls.” The theme aims to appreciate and applaud the ambition and potential of the Sustainable Development Goals for Girls, and recognize how girls’ progress is good not only for girls, but also for families, communities and society at large, it also aims at filling the existing gaps in data on girls and young women.

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