International Day of the Girl

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Each year on October 11 the international community celebrates the International #DayoftheGirl. The day was first acknowledged by the United Nations in 2012. According to the United Nations the day provides for the empowerment of the approximately 1.1 billion girls currently living in the world. The theme for this year is GirlForce: Unscripted and Unstoppable.  It is imperative that the global community has such a platform to speak for the million of girls who are rendered voiceless due to their gender. It is rather timely as this avenue provides the encouragement with the backing of the United Nations to girls to dream big, as well as to pursue their goals and ambition. This day is set aside to raise awareness of the challenges impacting girls such as access to education, legal rights, medical care, female genital mutilation, violence against women, gender equality and human rights. Regrettably, the United Nations reports that everyday 33, 000 girls are forced into child marriage which is a clear human right violation that threatens the health and lives of girls around the globe. The State has an important role to play in demolishing the structural barriers which hinder the progress of girls and women. It is equally important that governments also put in place programmes and initiatives to empower women and girls across the globe. One such programme is the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #5 which addressing gender equality and the empowerment of girls and women. We urge governments to work assiduously to ensure that the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are achieved by the year 2030.  Jamaica joins the international community in celebrating the achievements of our women and girls. We stand in solidarity with girls everywhere. Happy International Day of the Girl!  

Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.
waykam@yahoo.com
@WayneCamo
#DayoftheGirl

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