By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
The world marked the International Day of the Girl recently, celebrating the strength, leadership, and resilience of girls everywhere while calling for renewed action to advance their rights and opportunities.
Observed annually on October 11, according to resource materials monitored by our correspondent on the website of UNICEF, the day serves as a platform to amplify girls’ voices and advocate for equality in access to education, healthcare, and participation in decision-making processes.
This year’s theme, “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis,” highlights how girls across the world are stepping up as change-makers — confronting issues such as climate change, gender-based violence, and social inequality despite systemic barriers that hinder their growth.
UNICEF and other global partners have reiterated the need for increased investment in girls’ education, health, and leadership, noting that empowering girls yields lifelong benefits for communities and economies alike.
As the world commemorates thirty years since the Beijing Declaration, UNICEF urged stakeholders to ensure girls are not just heard but included in shaping policies and programmes that affect their futures.
