The History of the International Day of the Girl
Now it’s 2021, and this year will be the 10th observance of this momentous day. Over the last decade, this observance day has sought to raise awareness of common problems that girls face, but also seeks to contemplate the potential for what could happen if solutions were innovated that put those problems in our rear-view mirror once and for all.
Today, let’s talk about the history of the International Day of the Girl Child, and what we can do to work towards girls’ rights not just today, but on every other day of the year as well.
The Creation of the International Day of the Girl Child
The foundation of the International Day of the Girl Child begins in 1995, following the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. There, the attendees of the conference unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a blueprint for actions and policies that would improve the lives of not only women but girls as well. This was the first time in history that girls have been specifically recognized as having their own needs, separate from the needs of women, men, and boys.
Several years later, in 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to create the International Day of the Girl Child to help promote the gender equality platform that had been created at the Fourth World Conference on Women.
Celebrating This Important Holiday
Since the first observance in 2012, every year has been marked by the United Nations and their associated organizations with unique and creative activism campaigns, designed to raise awareness of different issues that affect girls.
The theme of 2021’s International Day of the Girl Child is the digital divide, and how that affects girls. With the pandemic accelerating demands for remote learning and other forms of digital connection, this is the perfect theme for this year.
Despite our high levels of global internet access, the digital divide between girls and other individuals is still notable. Between 2013 and 2019, that gap grew from 11% to 17% globally. In the world’s least-developed countries, the digital divide affecting girls sits at an astounding 43%. In these areas, girls are less likely to own or even access digital devices, and because of the pandemic, this has even further narrowed their access to education.
How ElevateRA is Working to Celebrate Girls
Even though the digital divide is this year’s theme, the lack of digital access isn’t the only thing holding many of our girls back from their education. If girls do not feel supported in their schoolwork or are struggling with a learning difference, this can also prevent them from achieving their full potential.
At ElevateRA, we work to celebrate girls by encouraging them to use their challenges to create power. Our programmes are designed to bring out their superpowers so they can fully embrace the things that make them unique.
This acceptance, combined with various learning and engagement strategies, is key to ensuring that our girls are able to grow and thrive in an educational environment.
Want to learn more about the services we offer? Get in touch with us today to find out more.
