International Girl Child Day 2023: History, theme, and facts
What Is International Girl Child Day?
International Day of the Girl Child was launched in 2012 to address matters affecting young women worldwide, like inequality, gender-based violence, and child marriage. Every year, on 11th October, the day is celebrated to empower women and amplify their voices. It recognises the power and potential of adolescent girls by encouraging the opening up of more avenues for them.
International Girl Child Day : Date
International Girl Child Day is observed annually on October 11. The day aims to focus on the importance of girls’ education, their rights, and promoting gender equality. It urges the global community to move beyond reaffirming commitments and invest boldly in the action needed to make changes that could empower girls. If you are celebrating the International Day of the Girl Child, it is important to know its history, significance, and theme. Scroll through to find out all these details inside.
The International Day of the Girl Child was first celebrated in 2012. It is marked annually on October 11. This year, it falls on Wednesday.
Who Initiated International Day of the Girl Child?
The Beijing Declaration, a resolution adopted by the United Nations, was the first to initiate a campaign for girls’ rights.
International Girl Child Day 2023 Theme for 2023
The theme of International Day of the Girl 2023 is “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being,” according to the official website of the United Nations.
History of International Girl Child Day
The Beijing Declaration was the first resolution to highlight the necessity of women’s and girls’ rights in the year 1995 at the World Conference on Women, held in Beijing. In world history, it was the first-ever draft to have recognised the need for addressing the concerns faced by young girls all around the globe.
The International Day of the Girl Child was launched as part of the international NGO Plan International’s campaign “Because I Am a Girl”. The campaign was designed to support girls, especially in developing countries, bring them out of poverty, and promote their rights.
On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 the International Day of the Girl Child. They aimed to recognise the challenges girls face globally and boost their rights.
Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life during their critical formative years and as they mature into women. Because if supported, they have the potential to become the empowered girls of today’s and tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders.
Talking about the importance of boosting fairer opportunities for girls and amplifying their voices, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Women and girls can lead us to a fairer future…let us amplify girls’ voices, and recommit to working together to build a world where every girl can lead and thrive.”
Meanwhile, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) embody a roadmap for sustainable growth. Achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is integral to these 17 goals.
