International Day of the Girl Child 2024, Girls’ Vision for the Future

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October 11 every year is the International Day of the Girl Child. The first of this commemoration was on December 19, 2011 when the United Nations adopted the Resolution to consecrate this day towards the commemoration.

This year’s theme is Girls’ Vision for the Future.This year’s commemoration is tailored towards the amplification of girls’ rights with emphasis on gender equality. Girls have the right to dream and not water down their dreams because of their gender.

Girls should be given equal rights to explore, make decisions and choose their own career. They should not be tied down with early marriage which amputates their dreams.

Their purpose in life should not be subjected alone to continuation of a lineage.Girls deserve more, they deserve better.

Background of the commemoration.

Source:United Nations

In 1995 at the World Conference on Women in Beijing, countries unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing the rights of not only women but girls.

The Beijing Declaration is the first to specifically call out girls’ rights.On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.

The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.

Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years, but also as they mature into women.

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If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world – both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders.

Upholding girls’ rights promises a more equitable future

An investment in realizing the power of adolescent girls upholds their rights today and promises a more equitable and prosperous future, one in which half of humanity is an equal partner in solving the problems of climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention, and global sustainability.

Girls are breaking boundaries and barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion, including those directed at children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities.

As entrepreneurs, innovators and initiators of global movements, girls are creating a world that is relevant for them and future generations.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in 2015, embody a roadmap for progress that is sustainable and leaves no one behind.

Achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is integral to each of the 17 goals. Only by ensuring the rights of women and girls across all the goals will we get to justice and inclusion, economies that work for all, and sustaining our shared environment now and for future generations.

Girls’ Vision for the Future

Source: UNICEF

The theme of this year’s International Day of the Girl is ‘Girls’ vision for the Future’. Our theme reflects findings from UNICEF analysis, which shows that girls are not only courageous in the face of challenges, but hopeful for the future.

Every day, they are taking action to realize a vision of a world in which all girls are protected, respected and empowered. But girls cannot realize this vision alone. They need allies who listen to and respond to their needs.

Evidence shows that with the right support, resources and opportunities, the potential of the world’s more than 1.1 billion girls is limitless. And when girls lead, the impact is immediate and wide reaching: families, communities and economies are all stronger, our future brighter.

Call to action

Urgent action is needed to drive progress with and for girls. Actively investing in girls’ futures is to invest in our own futures. Together, we can build a future in which every girl’s rights are protected. For when girls achieve their goals, we all move closer to achieving our Global Goals.