NOW Celebrates International Day of the Girl

In 1995 at the World Conference on Women in Beijing, where Hillary Clinton famously declared, "human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights, once and for all," countries unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action - the most progressive call ever for advancing the rights of not only women but girls.

On December 19, 2011, United Nations General Assembly acted to add October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls' rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.

Here are somekey facts on girls' rights, from the UN:

119.3 million girls are out of school, down by only 4.3% since 2015.

By the time they are 19 years old, 1 in 4 adolescent girls have experienced abuse by a partner.

9 million girls will be married as children by 2030.

The theme of this year's International Day of the Girl is "Girls' Vision for the Future." According to UNICEF,

"Our theme reflects findings from UNICEF analysis, which shows that girls are not only courageous in the face of challenges, but hopeful for the future. Every day, they are taking action to realize a vision of a world in which all girls are protected, respected and empowered.

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

NOW members can be those allies.

The future is female - and it is being led by adolescent girls.

The potential of the 600 million adolescent girls in the world opens infinite possibilities for all of us. Unlocking their potential, and giving them the freedom to exercise their rights are building blocks for a better world.

United Nations Population Fund Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem has said,

"A girl's life should begin the way every life should: as an open book in which she writes her own story. Yet from the moment a girl takes her first breath, she is already at a disadvantage simply because she was born a girl."

On this International Day of the Girl, let's work to eliminate the obstacles, barriers, and systemic forms of discrimination that keep girls from reaching their full potential, and realizing their vision of the future they want.

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