International Day of the Girl Child 2022; October 11th.

 FORUM: " Our Time is Now, Our Rights, Our Future." International Day of the Girl Child 2022.

Girls are ready for a decade of acceleration forward. It is time for us all to stand accountable – with and for girls – and to invest in a future that believes in their agency, leadership and potential.

STATEMENT FROM THE U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL ON THE TENTH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD 2022.

On the 10th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl Child, we celebrate the lives and achievements of girls across the world. When girls are supported to realize their human rights, they can reach their potential and create a better world for themselves, their communities and societies. When girls are educated, they are more likely to lead healthy, productive and fulfilling lives. When girls receive the right healthcare, they grow up with greater self-confidence and bodily autonomy. When girls understand their rights, including the right to live without the threat of violence, they are more likely to stay safe and report abuse. Many girls today face enormous challenges. They may have had their education ended by the COVID-19 pandemic. They may have been forced from their homes by conflict. They may be unable to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights. I am extremely concerned by the continued exclusion of girls from school in Afghanistan. This is deeply damaging to girls themselves, and to a country that desperately needs their energy and contributions. I once again urge the Taliban to let girls learn. Now more than ever, we must renew our commitment to work together so that girls enjoy and exercise their rights and can play a full and equal part in their communities and societies. Investing in girls is investing in our common future. On the International Day of the Girl Child, let’s redouble our efforts to make sure girls everywhere are healthy, educated and safe.

U.N. Secretary-General.

With adversity, however, comes resourcefulness, creativity, tenacity, and resilience. The world's 600 million adolescent girls have shown time and time again that given the skills and the opportunities, they can be the changemakers driving progress in their communities, building back stronger for all, including women, boys and men.

 

Ways to get involved!

• Share human interest stories, blogs and videos of girl changemakers, and the inspiring networks and organizations that are resourcing girls, letting girls lead, and strengthening services for girls. Let’s collectively amplify their leadership, actions, and impact to inspire others.
• Engage government officials, policymakers and stakeholders to make more targeted investments that tackle inequalities experienced by girls, especially while accessing mental health and psychosocial support services in the face of conflict, forced migration, natural disasters, and the effects of climate change.
• Engage key female influencers across industries to be the face of change we want girls to see as possible. Role models speak a thousand words. Let’s change the global conversation and public perception of girl leaders.
• Amplify your commitment to raising awareness about and addressing factors that hold girls in your country and region back.

PUBLICATIONS:  Investing in the pathways to employment: For adolescent girls and young women in low and middle-income countries.

Nearly 1 in 4 girls aged 15–19 globally are not in education, employment or training, compared to 1 in 10 boys. The analysis presented in this report lays out six core investment themes and examples of investable opportunities and calls on commercial organizations and investors, with an eye on social and economic impact, to adopt bold investment approaches across these themes.