Because I Am a Girl; an international movement by the aid organization Plan. Campaign that is made to address the issue of gender discrimination around the world, with the goal to promote the rights of girls and bring millions of them out of poverty around the world. Hence, it's part of the organization's broader international development work. A campaign that focuses on lack of equality faced by girls in developing countries, and promotes projects to improve opportunities for girls in education, medical care, family planning, legal rights, and other areas.
Apparently, International Day of the Girl Child is an international observance day declared by the United Nations. It is also called the Day of the Girl and the International Day of the Girl. However, it was first observed in October 11, 2012. The observation supports more opportunity for girls and increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide based upon their gender. This inequality includes areas such as right to education/access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and protection from discrimination, violence against women and unfree child marriage. The celebration of the day reflects the successful emergence of girls and young women as a distinct cohort in development policy, programming, campaigning and research.
The campaign's several current goals, which in 2012 included:
- Girls' education to be prioritised by world leaders
- Girls' completion of a quality secondary education to be a major focus of international action
- Funding for girls' education to be increased
- An end to child marriage
- An end to gender-based violence in and around schools
Plan targets 4 million girls through direct programs and projects, and it has goal of reaching 40 million girls and boys indirectly through gender programs. Also, plan has a further goal of positively impacting 400 million girls through lobbying for governmental policy changes.
Hence, International Day of the Girl Child increases awareness of issues faced by girls around the world; and creates awareness on what is likely to happen when those problems are solved. For example, educating girls helps reduce the rate of child marriage, disease and helps strengthen the economy by helping girls have access to higher paying jobs.
The International Day of the Girl Child initiative began as a project of Plan International, a non-governmental organization that operates worldwide. The idea for an international day of observance and celebration grew out of Plan International's Because I Am a Girl campaign, which raises awareness of the importance of nurturing girls globally and in developing countries in particular. Plan International representatives in Canada approached the Canadian federal government to seek to the coalition of supporters raised awareness of the initiative internationally. Eventually, Plan International urged the United Nations to become involved.
Various events to promote the Day of the Girl are planned in several countries. Some are sponsored by the United Nations, such as a concert in Mumbai, India. Non-governmental organizations, such as the Girl Guides Australia, are supporting events and activities for International Day of the Girl Child. Local organizations have developed their own events, such as Girls and Football South Africa, who will distribute T-shirts on International Day of the Girl Child to commemorate the 1956 Black Sash march by 20,000 women. An all-day event was held on London's South Bank in 2013, which included theatre and film performances produced by Body Gossip, an organisation that campaigns on body image and mental health issues. For the first Day of the Girl, a virtual event was developed by Sage Girl and iTwixie to bring thousands of individuals and organizations together online.
In 2016, London held a Women of the World (WOW) festival where 250 London school-aged girls were paired with women mentors. Also in 2016, President of the United States, Barack Obama, issued a proclamation supporting an end to gender disparity. Social media uses the hashtag, #dayofthegirl to track events and news about the day.
#DubemickyInspiringGreatnessDaily. Good evening and do have yourself a wonderful rest tonight. NOTE: You build a nation when you educate a girl. #DayOfTheGirl.
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