In 2011, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution adopting 11 October as the International Day of the Girl Child, recognizing girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.
This year, the theme of the day is EmPOWER Girls: Before, during and after crises. "Because of entrenched gender inequalities, disasters and conflict can make a bad situation even worse for girls," said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem, in a statement marking the occasion.
"They and their families, struggling to survive, are left with few choices, leaving girls even more vulnerable to child marriage, sexual- and gender-based violence, including trafficking, rape and sexual slavery. They are faced with the cruel reality of heightened risks to their sexual and reproductive health and diminished access to critical health care."
Even so, Dr. Kanem noted, "many girls manage to play a critical role in their homes and communities, even in crises. They are often the first responders who care for their families and establish networks that produce the social capital and resilience communities need to survive."
UNFPA works to protect the health and rights of adolescent girls through comprehensive sexuality education; access to sexual and reproductive health counselling, information and services; and through encouraging girls' empowerment and participation in decisions affecting them. UNFPA also works with boys and men to advance gender equality, and to encourage the abandonment of harmful stereotypes, the embrace respectful, healthy relationships, and support for human rights of all people, everywhere.
