International Girl Child Day: International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated annually on 11 October to highlight and draw attention to the challenges that girls face. It is also necessary to focus on their human rights and empowerment. What is the history behind celebrating International Day of the Girl Child, the theme, and its significance? Let us find out!
International Day of the Girl Child: Date
- 2024: 11 October, 2024 [Friday]
- 2025: 11 October, 2025 [Saturday]
- 2026: 11 October, 2026 [Sunday]
International Girl Child Day: The International Day of the Girl (IDG) observed annually on 11 October is a global platform to advocate for the full spectrum of girls’ rights. In ancient times, women were highly respected. But with time, their situation changed drastically. Thinking of people towards girls changed. Conservative practices like child marriage, the sati system, the dowry system, female foeticide, etc. became prevalent. Due to this, girls were being denied rights like education, nutrition, legal rights and medicine. But now in this modern era, several efforts are being made to provide girls their rights and to make people aware of it. The Indian government is also working in this direction and is implementing various schemes.
Since 2012, IDG has been celebrated every year. Its main objective is to empower women and help them to get their rights so that they can face challenges all over the world and meet their needs. At the same time, spreading awareness about eliminating gender abnormalities against girls around the world.
Theme:
- 2024: Girls’ vision for the future
- 2023: Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being
- 2022: Our time is now – our rights, our future
- 2021: Digital generation’. Our generation
- 2012: Ending Child Marriage
International Day of the Girl Child: History
World Conference on Women took place in Beijing in 1995 where countries unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. It was the most progressive blueprint for advancing not only the rights of women but also of girls. This declaration is the first to specifically call out girls’ rights. United Nations General Assembly on 19 December 2011 adopted a resolution 66/170 to declare 11 October as the International Day of the Girl Child. It’s aimed to highlight and recognise girls’ rights and the challenges that girls face around the world. Thus, the first International Day of the Girl Child was observed on 11 October 2012 and its theme at that time was “Ending Child Marriage”.
Significance:
The October 11th celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child is crucial for bringing attention to the distinct difficulties that girls confront around the world. Girls’ rights to education, healthcare, and safety from discrimination and assault are emphasized, along with the necessity of advancing gender equality. This day encourages girls’ active engagement in social, economic, and political life and urges for action to overcome gender imbalances. It serves as a reminder of the potential and significance of girls in creating a more just and equal world, as well as how to support their well-being and give them the tools they need to realize their goals.
The Government of India has also implemented several schemes to empower girls, under which “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” is one of them. Apart from this, the central and state governments are also taking initiatives and implementing various schemes.