Today is Tuesday, October 11, 2016. But do you know what is special about today? It is the International Day of the Girl, which is a world-wide movement to highlight and champion girl-led activism around the world. This year’s theme is “Girls’ Progress = Goals’ Progress: What Counts for Girls.”
International Day of the Girl was formally proposed as a resolution by Canada in the United Nations General Assembly five years ago. The resolution passed in December 2011, and the UN declared October 11, 2012 as the first International Day of the Girl. Since then, each October 11 has sparked a worldwide conversation and movement, focused on different themes that affect girls worldwide. Past themes include: “Ending child marriage”, “Innovating for girl’s education”, “Empowering Adolescent Girls: Ending the Cycle of Violence”, and “The Power of Adolescent Girl: Vision for 2030.”
While there are many efforts across the world, the Day of the Girl-U.S. calls for a national day of action, organizing activities such as a digital lunch conversation with First Lady Michelle Obama about her Let Girls Learn initiative, and an empowerment seminar in Missouri to help girls address issues in their communities. The U.S. organization frames their mission as including girls’ voices in movements for social justice and grassroots activism, while examining issues facing girls through an intersectional framework.
Day of the Girl-U.S. makes three critical points about their activism, which are thought-provoking for any person or organization committed to gender-justice and activism: 1. Girls are the experts on issues that affect girls. 2. Girls form marginalized communities must be central in conversations about social justice issues involving those communities. 3. Truly effective social change cannot come without girls’ leadership. 4. Girls’ issues are intersectional. We must intentionally include people who are different from ourselves in our social change work.
Click here for inspiring quotes from girls around the world to inspire you on this important day. Make sure you join the worldwide movement and conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #InternationalDayoftheGirl.