International Day Of The Girl Child 2024: Empowering Girl's Rights And Education For A Better Future

Living in an era where challenges are at their peak, raising and empowering girls in 2024 has become quite a responsibility.

In ancient times, women were highly respected for real. However, with changing times, things have taken dramatic shifts. Thinking of people towards girls has altered. Conservative practices like female foeticide, sexual assault and the dowry system, among others, became very prominent. Owing to this, girls were being denied rights and faced numerous challenges, including widespread gender discrimination, established hurdles such as access to education, and the incidence of child marriage.

And in a world where opportunities should be boundless, it is disheartening to realise the reality of the situation solely based on gender. However, in this modern era, several efforts are being made to provide them with their rights, like girls' education and empowerment, and to make people aware of them. The Indian government has also worked hard in this direction and implemented various schemes.

This is where, among various Global Girls' Initiatives, the one that gained attention is the International Day of the Girl Child, which is celebrated every year on October 11th.

What is International Day of the Girl Child and Girl Child Day 2024 Theme

If we talk about Girl Child Day, it is an annual event celebrated every year on October 11th to celebrate girls' leadership and development, amplifying their voices across the globe. Its primary objective is to empower women and assist them obtain their rights so that they may face obstacles all around the world while meeting their requirements. At the same time, raising awareness about issues such as ending child marriage and gender-based violence prevention against girls all around the world.

The theme for International Day of the Girl Child 2024 is ‘Girls’ vision for the future.' According to the UN, this year's theme expresses both the need for immediate action and persistent hope, propelled by the strength of girls' voices and their vision for the future. However, despite the progress, 122 million girls remain out of school. This is where UNESCO calls for breaking barriers, especially STEM education for girls, and celebrates the 2024 UNESCO Prize for Girls and Women’s Education laureates, recognising their vital role in empowering girls in 2024 and globally.

History of International Girl Child Day

This day has been known as International Girl Child Day or simply "International Girls' Day" since December 19, 2011. The UN General Assembly passed a resolution designating October 11 as a day to honour the girls. The Beijing Declaration, adopted in 1995 during the World Conference on Women in Beijing, was the first text to argue for the rights of women and girls. It was the first blueprint in history to recognise the need for addressing the issues that young girls face around the world. As part of the "Because I am a Girl" campaign by the global non-governmental organisation Plan International, International Day of the Girl Child was established.

Plan International, a non-governmental organisation, operates in over 70 countries worldwide. It spearheaded the 2007 campaign to raise awareness of the need to raise girls everywhere, but especially in impoverished countries with harsher living conditions. The program aimed to nurture girls' health and safety, particularly in underdeveloped nations, promote their adolescent girls' rights, and lift them out of poverty. During the campaign, the idea for International Day of the Girl Child developed, and its representatives requested the Canadian federal government to form a coalition of supporters.

What Can Be Done to Empower Girls

There are many things that can be done to empower girls in the modern era. Let's delve into some as follows:

• Undoubtedly, education is the key to empower girls. Thus, to do this, the government, organisations, and individuals must invest more in ensuring that all girls have access to education.
• In an era where gender inequality still exists, it is crucial to provide mentorship and support systems for girls to help them navigate challenges and build confidence in their abilities.
• To keep girls safe from all forms of violence, now is the time to work collaboratively. This entails passing and implementing robust laws prohibiting violence against females, as well as providing victim support services.

Now is the time!

Living in an era where challenges for women are growing excessively, it is now the time for collaborative action. When they are given the same security and opportunity, they can certainly reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society. Thus, empowering girls has become essential for creating a better world.