"The newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals rightly include key targets for gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. They offer an opportunity for a global commitment to breaking intergenerational transmission of poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination – and realizing our vision of a life of dignity for all." Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Some may ask why a special day is dedicated for a girl child. It is very clear that violence against children has no boundaries and cuts across countries, ethnicities, class, religion and culture. It occurs in homes, schools and streets; in places of education, work and entertainment, and in care and in detention centres. Those who commit these heinous crimes include parents, family members, teachers, caretakers, law enforcement authorities and other children. Some children are particularly vulnerable because of their gender, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability or social status whether you are rich or poor. 

However it is evident that around the world, rights of girls and the unique challenges they face needs special attention and therefore four years back in 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare 11^th October as the International Day of the Girl Child. This day is not only to eliminate violence against the girl child, but as mentioned by the UN, it is to consider the importance of social, economic, and political investment in the power of adolescent girls as fundamental to breaking the intergenerational transmission of poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination and in order to achieve equitable and sustainable development outcomes by the year 2030.

Some facts:

• Worldwide, more than 700 million women were married as children (below 18 years of age).
• More than one in three—or some 250 million—were married before 15. Child brides are often unable to effectively negotiate safe sex, leaving them vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy.
• Every 10 minutes, somewhere in the world, an adolescent girl dies as a result of violence.
• In emergencies, adolescent girls are especially vulnerable to sexual violence and in some cases, are abducted and exploited for sexual purposes by armed groups.
•  Nearly half (44 per cent) of adolescent girls worldwide aged 15 to 19 think a husband or partner is justified in hitting or beating his wife or partner under certain circumstances.

We would like to further emphasize and request our government, civil society organizations, and private sector to commit to putting adolescent girls at the centre of sustainable development efforts by making the following critical investments in their present and future:

• Invest in high quality education, skills, training, access to technology and other learning initiatives that prepare girls for life, jobs, and leadership.
• Invest in health and nutrition suitable to the adolescent years, including puberty education, menstrual hygiene management, and sexual and reproductive health education and services.
• Promote zero tolerance against physical, mental, and sexual violence.
• Enact and consistently implement social, economic, and policy mechanisms to combat early marriage and female genital mutilation.
• Invest in the creation and maintenance of social and public spaces for civic and political engagement, creativity and talent enhancement.
• Promote gender-responsive legislation and policies across all areas especially for adolescent girls who are disabled, vulnerable and marginalized, and victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Nevertheless our responsibility as women’s health and rights advocates will end only on the day that every girl and woman can say my bodily integrity and my rights are respected by every individual, community and by my country, until then, efforts must continue!