Last Updated on 10 October 2024 IST | The International Day of the Girl Child is observed on October 11 annually, is an attempt to raise awareness about the issues that girls face. Global events are organised to promote gender equality and female empowerment. Go through the article to know details.
International Day of Girl Child 2024: Highlights
- The International Day of Girl Child is observed on the 11th of October every year.
- This year’s theme is “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being”
- The UN General Assembly declared October 11 as International Day of the Girl Child on December 19, 2011.
- Global events, such as, award ceremonies and publication launch events are organised.
- Despite numerous laws ensuring the safety of girl children, crimes are happening on a daily basis, symbolising lack of enforcement of laws.
- Seeking refuge in the Complete Saint of Supreme God Kabir can ensure protection of a soul from mishaps.
What is The International Day of Girl Child?
The International Day of Girl Child is a global observance held annually, aimed at highlighting the need to improve the deteriorating conditions of the girls, fostering their empowerment by educating them about their rights, providing better healthcare, and protecting girls from violence and discrimination. A better environment allows girls to dream big and pursue a bright career.
International Day of Girl Child 2024 Theme
The theme for the International Day of Girl Child 2024 is ‘Girls’ Vision for the Future’. The primary focus of this year’s theme is to take forward the power within a girl’s voice to build trust in their vision to develop the future. Today, girls with unimaginable capabilities are left behind just because of factors like poverty, gender inequality, and many others, hampering overall development. This year’s theme aims to educate girls who are denied their rights, helping them improve their future and contribute to overall development.
International Day of Girl Child 2024 Events
With the goal of promoting gender equality and empowering women, following events and launches are being organised globally:
- Girls’ vision of the future of education & UNESCO prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education 2024 Award Ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France on 16th October 2024 (6:30 PM – 8:30 PM).
- The launch of Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2023 on 15th October 2024 in Costa Rica (9:00 AM – 10:40 AM local time). The event will also witness the arrival of the Minister of Education Ms. Anna Katharina Muller.
- The launch of Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2024 on Technology in Education in the Pacific on 21st October 2024 in Samoa. It will be launched during the Commonwealth Heads Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024.
- The 2024 Global Education Meeting at Fortaleza, Brazil on 31st October – 1st November 2024 (8:30 AM to 5:30 PM).
International Day of Girl Child 2024 Facts
The following statistics and facts are linked to the problem of gender equality and women empowerment:
- 122 million girls are out of school (1 in 5 girls).
- Women who experienced physical and sexual violence stands at 640 million.
- Women’s sports have 4% of all sports media content.
- 125 women journalists have been killed since 1995.
- 16% of UNESCO’s budget is dedicated to gender equality.
- 44 UNESCO chairs and work on gender equality.
- 34 intangible cultural heritage elements
- 20 women scientists are awarded every year through the L’Oreal-UNESCO for women in science programme.
- 100 displaced women artists supported inside and outside Ukraine.
- 13 biosphere reserves have been training women on beekeeping.
International Day of Girl Child: History
The commemoration of The International Day of the Girl Child promotes the empowerment of girls globally. It seeks to identify and amplify the voices of adolescent girls worldwide, while drawing attention to the challenges they face.
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most progressive blueprint for advancing women’s and girls’ rights, was adopted in 1995 during the World Conference on Women in Beijing. The UN General Assembly declared the 11th of October as International Day of the Girl Child on the 19th of December 2011, to focus on the challenges girls face daily and empower them. Since then, it has been recognised as the key platform for raising awareness about women’s and girls’ rights.
■ Also Read | International Daughters Day: How Can We Attain Gender Neutral Society?
Laws for Girl Rights Protection in India
Specific laws have been enacted to address issues affecting women and girls, these are listed below:
- Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
- Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987
- Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994 (PCPNDT Act 1994)
- Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
- Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013
- Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956
- Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986
- Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000
- Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
Current Scenario of Girl Child Safety in India
Despite raising global concerns about the cause, the issue of Girl Child Safety in India demands attention. Challenges such as sex-selective abortion, child marriage, sexual abuse, human trafficking, and domestic violence still exists in India. Some of the relatable statistics are listed as follows:
- 943 girls for every 1000 boys (Census 2011). (Source)
- Approximately 27% of the girls are married before the age of 21 (NFHS-4)
- As per NCRB, a significant proportion of girls experience sexual and domestic violence. However, figures cannot be determined due to under reporting.
- Apart from this, rapes in India are also quite common. The recent case that gathered attention was of an on-duty female doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. However, there are many such cases everyday, which primarily go unnoticed.
The issues surrounding girl child safety and female empowerment have always been significant. Despite strict laws, enforcement has remained weak over the years. Amidst worsening situation of women’s safety and gender equality, Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj through His devotees has been promoting and enforcing gender equality by treating all devotees equally before His eyes. These teachings have been imparted through His spiritual discourses and strictly enforced in all branches of His Satlok Ashram.
Quotes on International Day of the Girl Child
- Boisterous As Wind, Playful As Balloon, Please Don’t Kill The Little Butterfly In Her Cocoon.
- Don’t Be Cold, Girls Are Worth More Than Gold
- A Female Has The Right To Her Body, Even If She’s Still In The Womb
- A girl child brings joy, she is no less than a boy
- Don’t let their lives end before it even begins
- Girls Are The Spirit Of Our Nation, Save Them And Stop Their Exploitation.
International Day of Girl Child Significance
Understanding the significance of empowering girls holds a key place in the overall development of society. Due to various sorts of inequalities present in societies, the development of girls has always been suppressed, and this trend is still seen in some remote areas, especially in India.
Throughout history, there have been instances where girls showed courage and came forward to lead society in various ways. For example, Kalpana Chawla (first Indian origin woman to go to space), Kamala Harris (current Vice President of the US and a prominent political figure), Droupadi Murmu (current President of India), and Mirabai (a devotee who gave up traditional norms of worship to follow the true path of devotion as taught by Supreme God Kabir), as well as many others.
Almighty God Kabir Is the Real Protector
Despite abandoning all the traditional norms of worship, Mirabai was sheltered by the divine power of Supreme God Kabir. The one seeking His refuge enjoys ultimate protection and liberation. Like Kabir Saheb protected Mirabai after seeking His refuge, He can be the saviour for all who seek refuge in Him with complete devotion. Just like Mirabai, Supreme God Kabir helped Draupadi too, when an attempt was made to humiliate and disrobe her publicly in Kauravas Court, but was saved by God Kabir’s protection. Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj is His sole Complete Saint, giving the right way of devotion to worship Supreme God Kabir.
Today, where human rights for safety and equality, especially for women are neglected, the refuge of Supreme God Kabir through Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj can ensure protection and equality for all.
Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj Can Ensure Girl Rights Protection
Jagatguru Tatvdarshi Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj is the chosen messenger and the Complete Saint of Almighty God Kabir. Just as God Kabir sheltered Mirabai and Draupadi, one can obtain the same protection and care by taking Naam Diksha (Initiation) by seeking refuge in Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj. His divine refuge not only ensures equality for all His devotees, but also guarantees protection from Supreme God Kabir. Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj teaches His devotees that a boy and a girl child are equal under His care, as both are children of God Kabir. Furthermore, it becomes clear that only a fool would distinguish between them and practise gender inequality.
To learn more and watch discourses visit ‘Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj’ YouTube channel or order free sacred book ‘Gyan Ganga’ written by Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj on www.jagatgururampalji.org
Most Searched FAQs on International Day of the Girl Child
A: It can be done by empowering them with equal rights, better education and access to healthcare services.
A: ‘Girls’ Vision for the Future’
A: It is observed to raise awareness about gender-based violence and discrimination, and to stop it to ensure the safety of girl children globally.
A: ‘Girls’ Vision for the Future’
