International Day of the Girl Child: Empower Girls. End Violence.
“Empowerment of and investment in girls are key in breaking the cycle of discrimination and violence and in promoting and protecting the full and effective enjoyment of their human rights” United Nations Resolution 66/170
International Day of the Girl Child: Empower Girls. End Violence.
Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream
UNICEF Day of the Girl 2014: USTREAM
“On this International Day of the Girl Child, I call on all governments to take action to end all forms of violence against girls in all parts of the world. Together, we must create a world where violence against women and girls is never tolerated and girls are always empowered to reach their full potential.” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Did you know October 11 is the day of the girl child? For 2014, the main focus is on ending violence and empowering girls through education, equal access and basic rights. In 2008, UN Sec Gen Ban Ki-Moon said: “Violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable.” Six years later, we are still battling this issue. We need all hands on deck.
International Day of the Girl Child: Empower Girls. End Violence.
Global Figures Via HalfTheSkyMovement
2014 Theme: Empowering Adolescent Girls: Ending the Cycle of Violence: This year, as we raise awareness on issues of Violence against girls and women, and of other forms of Global Injustice, we gather to champion the right of all girls to enjoy equal rights and freedoms, and we celebrate the recognition of Malala’s Nobel Peace Prize. Without all of us playing an equal and productive role in the world, we will all be shortchanged. If we listen to the alarm sounded by a range of UN Agencies, we might learn that 35% of girls/women are victims of violence worldwide. If we heed the advice of the World Bank, we might learn that by 2015, 64% of girls would remain illiterate unless we act to empower them. I have culled a variety of sources on the subject of girl child rights. The stats are glaring. Follow the links, read them and then consider where you stand on the subject.
“One of the most effective ways to fight poverty and bolster poor communities is through investing in education, particularly that of girls.” HalfTheSkyMovement
International Day of the Girl Child: Empower Girls. End Violence.
Malala Yousafzai addresses United Nations Youth Assembly
“The International Day of the Girl Child is an opportunity to step up collective action to break the cycle of violence against girls and women.” Empowering girls today makes for a safer, healthier, more prosperous and sustainable tomorrow. UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Why Day of the Girl? According to data gathered from Plan International, UNWomen, WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO, and other sources, girls remain the highest % of victims of violence globally. They are still lagging behind in education 30% not enrolled, job opportunities, freedom of speech and movement in countries around the world. When we add other areas such as negative media images, relationship abuse, sex trafficking, rape culture, gender-based violence 150M girls, Child/Forced Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation, we see the huge chasm that must be addressed globally. Gender equity is not a fantasy. We must stop the violence and support all girls in our communities.
International Day of the Girl Child: Empower Girls. End Violence.
USA Figures via CDC.Gov
More Below!
“Empowering adolescent girls: Ending the cycle of violence”. UN Women Executive Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
International Day of the Girl Child: Empower Girls. End Violence.
Investing in adolescent girls to equip them with skills, confidence, and life options: through family, schools, technical and vocational education and training, and health, social and economic support systems;
Making infrastructure, services, and technology accessible to girls and effective in meeting their needs for safety, connectivity and mobility;
Facilitating adolescent girls engagement in civic, economic and political life;
Continuing to advocate for making violence against girls and women visible and unacceptable both in private and public domains;
Strengthening data, measurement and the evidence base in relation to the empowerment of
and violence against adolescent girls. Plan International
What can we do to create change? Plan International, offers some ideas in the blockquotes above and also a toolkit to encourage us all to take proactive steps. They also suggest we can: Make Noise on Social Media, Contact the Media, Lobby for Legislation, Title IX at your School, Write About It, Write to a Company, and even Start a Group. Come back later for more information on this critical issue.
International Day of the Girl Child: Empower Girls. End Violence.
Global Figures Via Visual.ly
What are your thoughts? Did you celebrate International Day Of The Girl Child? Do share! Thank you.
For More: Women’s Lives & Issues
Positive Motivation Tip: Girls can inspire change in each other and in all of us. Equal opportunity should be a given, not a privilege. Take a stand. Inspire all.
Additional Resources
- UNICEF, International Day of the Girl Child
- UN Women, International Day of the Girl Child
- UN Women Special Focus compilation on the Girl Child, one of the 12 critical areas of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
- Message of Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA Executive Director, on the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child
- UN Secretary-General Campaign UNiTE to End Violence Against Women
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos 2 Plan-it Posters via or Girls via Wikipedia Or Flickr
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Elizabeth…thank you so much for another exceptional post…what an important day to raise awareness for! I’ve reblogged this…I hope all my readers come over to visit your blog. 🙂 I think of you often, dear friend and first blogging buddy. 😉
Dear Vivian,
How can I ever forget you. When nobody knew our blogs existed, we supported each other. So sorry, my health got the better of me in the last year and recovery has been slow. I remain grateful for the friendship and hope we can make time to just chat. Hugs. 🙂
Violence against women is such a problem around the world. I’m glad that there are people and organizations bringing awareness to this issue and trying to change it.
I feel the same way. I’m glad more people are refusing to stand on the sidelines and watch.
I am all for empowering girls. I have boys and I teach them the same thing.
I’m glad you do as change begins with each of us in our homes. TY Robin!
Excellent post packed with information. I reviewed Plan Canada’s “Because I am a Girl I Can Change the World,” (Second Story Press) a nonfiction book released on Oct. 11. It is a gem and belongs in every classroom. Didn’t know if you were familiar with the book.
Thank you Patrica for taking the time to look at the vital information shared here. I’ve heard of Plan Canada but haven’t seen the book. I will check it out and purchase a copy on Amazon. TY for the heads up. Appreciated.
It was released last Saturday. Think it’s something you’ll want to own.:)
Will get a copy. Thanks again! 🙂
I think this is great girls in other countries need to be more empowered.
Please take a moment to read the post and look at the graphics. It is a universal problem. Violence against girls is a problem in the USA too. I added the stats to this post so we won’t think it happens elsewhere. It happens HERE too! 🙁
It is so sad what girls endure in other countries, it breaks my heart. I am glad someone is speaking up – these girls deserve better.
It is sad to read these numbers but please note that this is not only happening in other countries. It is happening in the USA too. That is why I added the stats on violence in the US. It is a universal problem. Thank you for the feedback.
This is the first time I’ve heard of International Day of the Girl Child. Thanks for sharing and helping to ring awareness to this day.
You are welcome Trisha!
The rape statistics are very, very scary. How can any government stand for violence against women.? As a mother to a young man and a young woman, I feel it is my responsibility to raise loving, respectful adults. Thanks for bringing this very important cause to my attention.
Thank you too for your concern. I feel the same way.
I agree that there’s a big need to address these issues now. We should all share in the responsibility of spreading the word. Great piece.
Thank you Maurene for your thoughtful comment.
It will be so great when we don’t have to have a day set aside to celebrate girls and they’re just treated equally to boys every single day.
Yes, I look forward to that special day!
I may be the mom of four boys, but I feel that campaigns like this are extremely needed and necessary. It is important for girls to grow into women who feel empowered, strong and safe.
Indeed. I am for gender equity because anything less is a denial of our collective contributions.
The effects of this violence go far beyond the physical. It’s devastating and I love this empowerment movement.
Yes, we need these movements and stats to get people acting.
I would love to see violence against women drastically reduced in my lifetime. It’s a cycle that must end!
Same here… It is truly tragic.
I didn’t realize there was a day dedicated to the Girl Child, I am so glad to see this. There are more and more organizations rising and raising awareness and that is so wonderful to see. Right now, here in Canada, one of our main activist campaigns is working on our government to hold a public inquiry into the extremely large number of missing and murdered aboriginal women. It is a slow process – they are not very cooperative.
I’m so sorry to hear about the missing women and hope they will act. It reminds me of an NPR report I heard about the missing women in Juarez, Mexico. And the missing girls in Northern Nigeria…
I agree that empowerment for girls is so important and more awareness needs to happen!
Thank you! Ditto. 🙂
I recognize Malala Yousafzai now because of your posts. It’s wonderful that you’re helping to share this word.
Thanks again Rosey! I’ve followed her story for the last two years. I’m happy for her and what it means for young, brave girls around the world.
It’s all related. I really think girl empowerment through education in developing countries especially would lead to less violence (eventually) and following that better financial situations for everyone involved. Communities would grow stronger. Women would have a louder and stronger say in what happens.
I think it is wonderful that there is a day that recognizes empowering girls globally. There are so many brave girls around the world that have made such a huge impact on humanity.
Thank you for sharing these stats. It is nice to know there is a day of the girl.
As the mother of three girls and one son, my husband and I know the importance of teaching our children that domestic violence is wrong and that it is not acceptable.
I really hope that in my lifetime I see changes to the way girls and women are treated here and around the world. Those statistics make me cringe.
I’ve never heard of this but so glad to see they are bringing awareness to this issue. I have heard of Malala though.
Very I’m powering post. I know that I try to tell my daughter that she can do and be anything she wants to do as long as she puts in the hard work and effort. I’ve always been self motivated and a hard worker. After a medical layoff, I had to find something to do to keep me from going crazy. I started blogging full time even though I wasn’t the best writer. It has brought me joy and happiness knowing I touch other people’s lives and help others.
Thank you for sharing an inspiring post about the younger generation of girls. They have resources that we didn’t have growing up.
I love the whole movement of empowering girls. I want my daughter to be empowered, strong and independent.
I had no idea October 11 is the day of the girl child.
But all those numbers – they are awful! I had no idea that things are that bad :S
It’s amazing to me that in this day and age we still have such violence against women all around the world. I just hope with things like this, my daughters will see a change.
It’s amazing that in this day and age, there is still such violence against women around the world. I hope when my daughters are grown that this will change.
Thank you for sharing these valuable information. I am all for women/girl empowerment, and so are my friends and colleagues. Sharing this article with them.
It’s sad that there’s still violence like this going on, I believe violence towards others in general shouldn’t be happening.
Can’t forget sex trafficking! It’s all so hideous. What kind of world do we live in?
This is awesome that they have a day for girls. I did not know this. It is important to share this information with both girls and boys. Thanks for sharing the awareness.
Really a great post. Its very important to raise awarness about empowering girls. Violence against women is a big problem. These days there are many organizations that are trying to raise awareness about this. A Girl’s empowerment begins with their self esteem and self confidence.
Women abuse is a problem around the world. More people should raise awareness about this.
I never heard about this before and thanks for sharing this very informative article…
I did not know about the international day of the girl child and to think I have a girl child of my own! I do hope violence will be stopped soon!