International Day of the Girl Child 2012

In December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring October 11^th as the International Day of the Girl Child. The day was established to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges they face around the world. The action follows a multi-year campaign by activists in Canada and the United States.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ON ISSUES FACING GIRLS AROUND THE WORLD

This year marks the first time this day in honor of girls is being observed. It provides an occasion for reaching out and educating others about the status of girls and the positive results that can be obtained by investing in them and is a good platform for engaging girls directly and offering them an opportunity to interact with positive role models.

USAID Supports Girls & Young Women

NEW INITIATIVES

Half the Sky - Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide Multimedia Initiative

Women and Girls Lead Global - A Century Media Strategy to Promote Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Worldwide

Ending Child Marriage and Meeting the Needs of Married Children: The USAID Vision for Action [PDF, 463kB]

Learning Out Of Poverty - Click to view infographic

SNAPSHOTS

...supporting and promoting...

Education & Training

• Breaking the Cycle of Poverty by Educating and Empowering Girls to Give Back
• Girls in Front Row of Yemen’s New Education Drive
• Creating Opportunities for Women and Girls - USAID Helps an Afghan Civil Society Organization Provide Training for Girls in Kandahar
• Rosie the Riveter Would Be Proud:  USAID Helps Young Palestinian Women Make Inroads into Male Dominated Fields
• A Woman with Great Taste - Amid Grounds of Coffee, a Young Colombian Woman Finds Her Calling as a “Cupper”

Health & Family Planning

Saving Moms at Birth: Click to view infographic

• 24 Months for Pakistan: Young Couples Learn About Birth Spacing
• Adults Benefit from Adult-Child Communication Sessions
• PEPFAR Go Girls! Program Addresses Young Girls' Vulnerabilities to HIV

Empowerment & Leadership

• Promoting Leaders, Empowering Youth through Power to Lead Alliance and Innovation Through Sport Programs
• Outreach Work Empowers and Educates Young Women

   ...preventing and responding to...

Why Invest In Women? - Click to view infographic

Child Marriage

• Combating Early Marriage from the Ground Up
• From Young Bride to Young Child Again
• Yemeni Communities Unite Against Child Marriage

Gender-Based Violence

• Early Lessons Aim to End Rape Epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Opening “Doorways” to Safer Schools - Stories from Ghana and Tajikistan

Human Trafficking

• USAID Training Brings Justice to Victim of Trafficking Attempt

More Information

• Press Release: USAID Recognizes the International Day of the Girl Child
• Meeting the Health Needs of Girls
• International Day of the Girl Child Photo Set