The day is used to create awareness about the challenges faced by women and the protection of their rights. The day is significant as it marks an end to gender-based challenges. Girls around the world face many challenges, including child marriage, discrimination and violence.
History
Internationally, the initiative to observe the Day of the Girl Child was taken by the non-governmental organization ‘Plan International’. The organization also launched a campaign titled ‘Because, I am a girl’. After this, the Canadian government was contacted to expand the campaign internationally. The Government of Canada then introduced this resolution at the 55th UN General Assembly. Finally, on 19 December 2011, the United Nations passed this resolution and chose 11 October as the day. Thus the first International Day of the Girl Child was observed on 11 October 2012, with the theme ‘Ending Child Marriage’.
The aim of this day is to make girls aware of your rights, your safety and equality. Thus they are able to face all the challenges and problems that come their way. The day is also significant because it addresses gender-based challenges faced by girls around the world, including child marriage, discrimination and violence.
theme
Every year a special theme is chosen to observe this day and this theme focuses on an important issue facing girls for a particular year to focus more attention on that issue. The theme for 2022 is ‘Our time is now- our rights, our future’.