International Girl Child Day 2023: When is International Day of the Girl Child? Know date, history, significance, theme

Published on: Oct 11, 2023, 07:31:07 IST

By Krishna Priya Pallavi, Delhi

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When is International Day of the Girl Child? Know its date, history, significance, theme (www.un.org)

International Girl Child Day falls on October 11. Here's all you need to know about the history, theme and significance of International Day of the Girl Child.

International Girl Child Day is observed annually on October 11. The day aims to focus on the importance of girls' education, their rights, and promoting gender equality. It urges the global community to move beyond reaffirming commitments and invest boldly in the action needed to make changes that could empower girls. If you are celebrating the International Day of the Girl Child, it is important to know its history, significance, and theme. Scroll through to find out all these details inside.

International Girl Child Day 2023 Date

The International Day of the Girl Child was first celebrated in 2012. It is marked annually on October 11. This year, it falls on Wednesday.

International Girl Child Day 2023 Theme:

The theme of International Day of the Girl 2023 is "Invest in Girls' Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being," according to the official website of the United Nations.

International Girl Child Day 2023 History and Significance:

In 1995, countries unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action at the World Conference on Women in Beijing. It was the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing the rights of women and girls. The Beijing Declaration became the first policy to specifically call for the rights of the girl child. On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 the International Day of the Girl Child. They aimed to recognise the challenges girls face globally and boost their rights.

Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life during their critical formative years and as they mature into women. Because if supported, they have the potential to become the empowered girls of today's and tomorrow's workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders. Talking about the importance of boosting fairer opportunities for girls and amplifying their voices, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, "Women and girls can lead us to a fairer future...let us amplify girls' voices, and recommit to working together to build a world where every girl can lead and thrive."

Meanwhile, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) embody a roadmap for sustainable growth. Achieving gender equality and women's empowerment is integral to these 17 goals.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Krishna Pallavi Priya
Krishna Priya Pallavi is a journalist with over 9 years of experience, covering health, fashion, pop culture, travel, wellness, entertainment, festivals, mental health, art, decor, fitness, and sex and relationships. She is an alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, and holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. Her strong academic foundation informs her analytical and detail-oriented approach to storytelling, helping her uncover stories where none seem to exist. Before joining Hindustan Times, Pallavi worked with some of India’s leading media organisations. She spent close to three years at India Today, where she honed her newsroom skills and developed a sharp editorial sensibility. She also worked for over a year and a half at Vagabomb, ScoopWhoop’s feminist digital platform, where she explored stories through a gender-sensitive, socially aware lens. Pallavi has a deep interest in global fashion trends and international fashion seasons, and enjoys interviewing celebrities and tracking pop culture movements—interests that frequently translate into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Alongside lifestyle and entertainment, she has a keen eye for impactful health and wellness journalism, regularly interacting with doctors, designers, and digital content creators to bring nuance and credibility to her work. Born and raised in Haryana, Pallavi remains deeply connected to her ancestral roots in Odisha. Her ability to spot fresh angles brings curiosity and depth to stories she pursues. When not chasing deadlines, she enjoys spending time with her dog, planning her next vacation, reading, running new trails, and discovering new destinations.Read More