International Day of the Girl Child

Across the world, nearly 1 in 4 girls aged 15 to 19 years is neither employed nor in education or training compared to 1 in 10 boys of the same age. By 2021, around 435 million women and girls will be living on less than $1.90 a day. 1 in 3 women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence, and the rate of violence against women and girls is increasing. At least 60% of countries still discriminate against daughters’ rights to inherit land and non-land assets in either law or practice. International Day of the Girl Child is to recognise girls’ rights, to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights. If supported effectively during adolescent years, girls have the potential to be equally solving the problems of climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention and global sustainability.