The International Day of the Girl (IDG), marked annually on October 11, is a global platform for advocating for girls' rights. This year, when various movements and actions aim to restrict girls and women's rights and reverse progress toward gender equality, we observe particularly devastating effects on girls. There is an urgent need for increased attention and resources for the key areas that enable girls to realise their rights and achieve their full potential, from maternal health care and parenting support for adolescent mothers to digital and life skills training, from comprehensive sexuality education to survivor support services and violence prevention programs.
In response to the cries for change made by girls, the global community must go beyond renewing promises and engage boldly in the action required to effect change. The International Day of the Girl revolves around.
Centre girls in protecting and promoting rights
To combat the pushback against gender equality, they must prioritise girls' rights in their work. girls are often overlooked regarding maternal health care, parenting assistance, unpaid care work, or access to financial knowledge and resources. Equality for girls in any space must be fair to prevent this from happening, whether it is a debate in an international resolution, the development of a national policy, or the support of grassroots initiatives in response to a humanitarian crisis.
Recognize, celebrate, and support girls' leadership
Investing in girls' leadership entails providing space and platforms for girls to raise their voices at all levels of policymaking, directly funding girls' movements and networks, and incorporating girls' voices, agency, and leadership into all programming.
Ensure information, services and systems meaningfully change to be adolescent-girl-friendly
This involves addressing the stigma and poor treatment that many adolescent girls have expressed when it comes to obtaining vital services, such as sexual and reproductive health care, attending to school if pregnant/having given birth, or managing menstrual health and cleanliness.
Challenges for girls in the world today
We see stark ways in which girls are left behind across various dimensions as a result of these patriarchal tendencies playing out at every level - from formal governing institutions to community norms, family behaviour, and individual attitudes. As an example:
Today, roughly one in every five girls does not complete lower secondary school, and nearly four out of ten girls do not complete upper secondary school. And in certain areas, the figures are far worse. In low-income nations, almost 90% of adolescent girls and young women do not utilise the internet.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 100 million girls faced child marriage in the coming decade. Because to the COVID-19 epidemic, up to 10 million more girls globally will be at danger of marrying as children during the next ten years.
Globally, girls aged 5-14 spend 160 million more hours each day than boys of the same age on unpaid care and domestic work. This lopsided distribution of unpaid work intensifies during adolescence, with substantial consequences for the well-being of girls.
International Day of the Girl in Kenya and Ethiopia
Kenya and Ethiopia, like many other nations throughout the world, observe International Day of the Girl to raise awareness of the specific difficulties and issues that girls confront and to promote gender equality. This day is observed in Kenya and Ethiopia with a variety of activities and initiatives aimed at emphasising the importance of girls' rights and empowerment. Such activities which are used to help empower girls include.
Educational seminars:
Hold seminars or webinars to teach females about their rights, self-esteem, leadership, and professional options.
Awareness Campaigns:
Launch social media campaigns in which you share tales and information regarding the difficulties that females experience, as well as the importance of gender equality such as with the chairperson of the local civil society in Nakuru city, Ms. Agnes Mwamburi advocating for continuing changes for girls in central and rural Kenya - https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/international-day-of-the-girl-child/
School and College Events:
Encourage educational institutions to hold special events, assemblies, or workshops to teach students about gender equality.
Awareness Materials:
Create and distribute informational booklets, posters, and instructional materials regarding the significance of the day and the difficulties that girls confront. “Yet child marriage, adolescent pregnancy, and gender-based violence derail the lives of far too many girls. Increased, targeted investments in sexual and reproductive health services and comprehensive sexuality education equips adolescent girls with the tools to make informed decisions about their bodies and lives, and empowers them as agents of change and future leaders” a comment made by the Executive Director of the UNFPA of Ethiopia, which focuses on the premises oif International day of the girl challenging and address a rising issue of child marriage within Ethiopia. https://ethiopia.unfpa.org/en/news/statement-unfpa-executive-director-international-day-girl-11-october
The Premises of International Day of the Girl is to help disadvantaged girls from different backgrounds into education and help them achieve.
In Summary, The International Day of the Girl is significant because it raises awareness of the special issues that girls confront and advocates for their rights, equality, and empowerment. By commemorating this day, societies and governments may work towards a more just and equal world in which every girl can reach her full potential.
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