What Does This Celebration Entail?
International Day of the Girl Child could be described as the brainchild of the World Conference on Women. In 1995, at the conference in Beijing, it was decided that such a day dedicated to the growth of girls around the world was a necessity. As a result, countries unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This made the declaration the first of its kind; in that, it separated the girl child from the umbrella of women and acknowledged their specific needs. Observed on October 11 every year, the day focuses on the rights, safety and education of girls. The core objective is to make girls an active part of the progress of the world.
The Theme of the Celebration
As part of the celebration, a theme is selected to highlight the need of the hour. This year, the theme has been set as
“Digital generation. Our generation.”
acknowledging the growing digital world and how a digital gap can also widen the gender gap.
Important Reflections for the Day
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. 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.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.
SDGs and the Rights of the Girl Child
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
DOVENET as a Partner towards the Achievement of the Goals
- DOVENET works with relevant agencies in conducting community sensitization campaigns/outreaches on the rights of women especially the girl-child.
- We strengthen the capacity of community-based committees on child rights promotion and protection for their active participation in development programs.
- DOVENET also provides psycho-social support for children. Child abuse and child trafficking issues are also addressed to impact on children’s survival, growth and development
- DOVENET is working with other development partners to promote the right to participation among children in different development programs. We believe in participatory development processes for the realization of sustainable socio-economic development agenda.
- DOVENET undertakes empowerment of the woman in local communities, by training them on relevant skills and giving them financial grants that will enable them to run small and medium scale enterprises.
