October 15, 2020
My Voice, Our Equal Future
It started in Beijing, China when 30,000 people gathered for the Fourth World Conference on Women. Representatives from nearly 200 countries attended with the determined goal of recognizing women’s rights as human rights. Of course, this fight has been going on for much longer, but on that day in 1995, all 200 countries unanimously adopted The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which has since been regarded as the “most progressive blueprint ever for advancing the rights of not only women but girls.” The Beijing Declaration was the first of its kind, a call to action for the rights of girls.
Fast-forward 16 years to December 19, 2011 where the United Nations (UN) adopted Resolution 66/170, officially declaring October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child. This observance sought to recognize the rights of girls and the unique challenges faced by girls across the world. The progress of girls in societies across the globe have never matched that of their male counterparts. The UN Resolution built upon the opportunity to be inspired and emboldened to act by the changes that young girls want, whether they be big or small, and whether or not those changes are embraced with enthusiasm. Adolescent girls around the globe are leading the charge and demanding the basic human rights that they deserve. Obtaining equal access and participation for young women is fundamental in each of the 17 goals that have been set forth for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

“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.” -UN Women

As adolescent girls worldwide assert their power as agents of change, International Day of the Girl 2020 will focus on their demands to:

  • Live free from gender-based violence, harmful practices, and HIV and AIDS 
  • Learn new skills toward the futures they choose 
  • Lead as a generation of activists accelerating social change
This year has shown the reliance on women and young girls in the home, while at the same time exacerbating the unique challenges to young girls who already faced systematic inequalities in every facet of daily life. During times of emergency, when the capacity of institutions is reduced and resources are scarce, we know women and girls face an impact that is disproportionate with broader and longer-lasting consequences that are compounded in situations of conflict and crisis. The UN has established an interactive guide on how COVID-19 impacts women and girls around the world. You can explore the various domains in which women are being affected, including domestic violence, economic impacts, and healthcare. To explore topics and learn more about how women are affected during the pandemic, click here.

Are you wondering what you can do to observe the International Day of the Girl? The UN has some suggestions for getting involved (we also added our own at the end).
Ways to get involved:

  • Share stories of inspiring adolescent girls or girl-led organizations who are developing innovative solutions or leading efforts toward positive social change, including gender equality, in their communities and nations. Let’s amplify their leadership, actions and impact to inspire others. 
  • Participate in a youth-led digital activation launching on International Day of the Girl. Young people across the world are developing a digital activism campaign, aiming to raise the diversity of girls’ voices and their vision for a reimagined future.
  • Ask a girl in your life what’s important to them and do what you can to empower them to their fullest potential!
#DEIatCTI #InternationalDayOfTheGirlChild #UnitedNations #Inclusion #WomensRights #Equality #YesSheCan

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