International Day of the Girl Child

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“A digital revolution is not possible if the gender digital divide continues. Make way for girls who are ready to lead the digital revolution.”- United Nations Women. The educations of girls are often sacrificed compared to that of boys. We live in a male dominated world where patriarchy determines government’s programmes, policies and plans regarding development. Historically development is viewed through male lenses. Undoubtedly, human development cannot be realized if we continue to exclude the voices and opinions of women and girls from the halls of power and negotiations. Sadly, if we turn our attention to Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of the country in August of 2021 we clearly see what life is like without the inclusion of females. The education of girls beyond primary schools has been suspended in Afghanistan. Additionally, career women have been told to remain home and the future of girls in Afghanistan remains in a state of heightened uncertainty. Investments in programmes to benefit girls have been greatly reduced. Regrettably, women and girls no longer have a voice in many societies. The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the inequalities in many societies. Worldwide, girls aged 5-14 spend more than 160 million hours more on household chores than boys of the same age do; 33,000 girls will become child brides today. Women and girls make up 96% of those trafficked for sexual exploitation. Unfortunately, during the COVID-19 pandemic, online and information and communications technology (ICT) facilitated violence against women and girls, heightening the situation. The issues highlighted can be eradicated with more effort from governments and international agencies. The United Nations (UN) states nearly 1 in 4 girls aged 15–19 globally are not in education, employment or training, compared to 1 in 10 boys. The UN’s analysis highlights various 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. Background In 1995 at the World Conference on Women in Beijing, countries unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing the rights of not only women but girls. The Beijing Declaration is the first to specifically call out girls’ rights. On December 19, 2011, United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world. The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights. The United Nations declares that 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. An investment in realising the power of adolescent girls upholds their rights today and promises a more equitable and prosperous future, one in which half of humanity is an equal partner in solving the problems of climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention, and global sustainability. Globally, the percentage of females among Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) graduates is below 15 per cent in over two-thirds of countries. Positive Trends In spite of the challenges girls face; a number of positive trends have been occurring over the years as girls have become more empowered. Girls are breaking boundaries and barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion, including those directed at children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities. The theme for International Day of the Girl Child is, Digital Generation. Our Generation. The UN states that as entrepreneurs, innovators and initiators of global movements, girls are creating a world that is relevant for them and future generations. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in 2015, embody a roadmap for progress that is sustainable and leaves no one behind. 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. On this International Day of the Girl Child we must implore governments globally to invest more in the education of girls, as well as to redouble their efforts as they work towards implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #5 which addresses gender equality. In the words of the United Nations; digital connectivity for girls is a matter of human rights. 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 #GenerationEquality ©

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