International Day of the Girl

International Day of the Girl

11 October

Girls’ Vision for the Future

The theme for International Day of the Girl 2024 is “Girls’ Vision for the Future”.

This year’s theme reflects both the need for urgent action and an enduring hope, driven by the power of girls’ voices and their vision for the future.

Today’s generation of girls is disproportionately affected by global crises related to climate, conflict, poverty and the rollback of hard-won gains in human rights and gender equality. Too many girls are still denied their rights, limiting their choices and limiting their futures.

Yet recent analysis shows that girls are not only courageous in the face of crises, but also full of hope for the future. Every day, they take action to realize the vision of a world in which all girls are protected, respected and empowered.

But girls cannot achieve this vision alone. They need allies who listen and respond to their needs.

With the right support, resources and opportunities, the potential of the world’s more than 1.1 billion girls is limitless. And when girls take the lead, the impact is immediate and far-reaching: families, communities and economies are stronger, our futures brighter.

It’s time to listen to girls, to invest in proven solutions that will accelerate progress toward a future in which every girl can realize her potential.

Background

In 1995, at the World Conference on Women in Beijing, countries unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the most progressive plan ever developed to advance the rights of not only women but also girls. The Beijing Declaration is the first to specifically refer to girls’ rights.

On 19 December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 66/170 to declare 11 October as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize the rights of girls and the unique challenges they face around the world.

The International Day of the Girl Child emphasizes the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote their empowerment and the realization of their human rights.

Adolescent girls have the right to lead safe, educated and healthy lives, not only during these crucial formative years, but also as they mature into women. If effectively supported during their adolescence, girls have the potential to change the world – both as empowered girls today and as workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, heads of households and political leaders tomorrow. Investing in the power of adolescent girls can uphold their rights today and promise a more equitable and prosperous future, in which half of humanity is an equal partner in addressing climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention and global sustainability.

Girls are breaking down the boundaries and barriers of stereotypes and exclusion, including those that target children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities. As entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders of global movements, girls are creating a world that serves them and is relevant for 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 sustainable progress that 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 achieve justice and inclusion, economies that work for all, and the preservation of our shared environment today and for future generations.