Oct. 11th is International Day of the Girl

October 11th marks the International Day of the Girl, a day declared by the United Nations in 2011 “to help galvanize worldwide enthusiasm for goals to better girls’ lives, providing an opportunity for them to show leadership and reach their full potential.” Join this youth-led movement as activists groups and the community come together to raise awareness of, and advance, gender justice and opportunities for girls around the world.

According to the United Nation Women (UN Women)’s website, the theme for this year is “With Her: A Skilled Girl Force,” which supports “girls everywhere as they inspire, innovate and take charge of their own future.” While the 1.1 billion girls around the globe face hardships in gender equality in terms of access to information, education, resources, technology and more, they are still persisting.

The website notes that young girls are using their collective voices and tenacity to make an impact on the world by developing technological innovations, raising awareness of environmental issues, speaking up against violence and preparing to enter the political sphere.

Day of the Girl Facts from UN Women

• A quarter of young people, mostly girls, are neither employed nor getting an education or training.
• In 2018, 12 million girls under 18 will be married, 21 million between the ages 15 and 19 will become pregnant in developing regions.
• By age 6, girls are likely to see boys as more likely to be smarter and better suited for intelligent activities.
• The global unemployment rate for young women between the ages 15 and 24 is 13.4 percent, compared to 12.1 percent for young men of the same age.
• Only 67 percent of young people use the internet in developing countries, compared to 94 percent of those in developed countries.

Helping young girls have access to education and resources today is pivotal for impacting gender equality tomorrow. Learn how you can be involved in this important day and movement for gender equality and women. Visit the United Nation Women website for more information and events.