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International Day of the Girl Child is being observed on Sunday (October 11), with a global commitment to ensuring girls’ safety, fundamental rights and equal opportunities.
Child marriage remains a major concern worldwide. Statistics show that a girl becomes a victim of child marriage every three seconds, resulting in more than 12 million girls being married before adulthood each year. As a result, millions lose opportunities to pursue education, protect their health and shape their futures.
According to the United Nations, the theme for this year’s observance is “End Child Marriage, Invest in Girls’ Rights”. The theme was developed through consultations involving girls, rights activists, civil society representatives and international organisations.
The UN says one in every two child marriages occurs in the developing world. The situation is particularly severe in sub-Saharan Africa, where 31 per cent of girls are married before reaching adulthood.
Early marriage disrupts girls’ education and exposes them to various physical and mental health risks. It can lead to depression, emotional distress and social isolation. Self-harm is also one of the leading causes of death among adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 worldwide.
However, the UN remains hopeful that child marriage can be eliminated through effective planning. Over the past 25 years, an estimated 68 million child marriages have been prevented through investment in education, legislation and social protection.
The UN has called for keeping girls in school, improving access to healthcare and challenging harmful traditions and social norms. It has also stressed the importance of developing girls’ leadership skills and ensuring they can participate in decisions affecting their lives.
A study by international development organisation Plan International, titled The State of the World’s Girls, gathered the views of 5,000 adolescent girls and young women. The research highlighted how environmental and climate-related disasters threaten girls’ education, safety and future.
The report also highlighted links between the global climate crisis and sexual abuse, child marriage and unintended pregnancies.
The foundation for observing the International Day of the Girl Child was laid at the 1995 Beijing World Conference on Women. The Beijing Declaration played a significant role in advancing the rights of women and girls. On December 19, 2011, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution designating October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child.
According to the UN, girls who have access to safety, education and opportunities can transform the economic prospects of their families, communities and countries.One girl married every three seconds worldwide
Source: Plan International