We Stand With Girls Everywhere

 

Yesterday, October 11, was the International Day of The Girl. The UN's theme for this year is “The Power of the Adolescent Girl: Vision for 2030. The theme highlights the importance of girls to achieving the global goals for sustainable development. Simply put: In order to attain the Global Goals by 2030, we have to reach girls.

The International Day of The Girl gives us the opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary power of girls to change the world if educated and empowered.

We cannot claim to be living in an advanced world if 62 million girls are still out of school and 15 million girls a year are married before 18. This must change!

Here are a few reasons why we should all stand with girls everywhere and rise up for girls' rights:

• Every girl no matter where she comes from or lives, has the right to go to school, stay safe from violence, access health services, and fully participate in her community.
• Empowered girls mean healthier families. When girls are educated, healthy, and empowered, families are healthier.
• Empowered girls are key to breaking the cycle of poverty for families around the world.
• Empowered girls strengthen economies. According to a new Brookings report, “Increasing the number of women completing secondary education by just 1 percent could increase a country’s economic growth by 0.3 percent.”
• An empowered girl is 10 times more likely to know her right and protect herself from HIV/AIDS.
• Every girl has the right to be in charge of her future and her fate. 

We have the collective obligation to protect girls' rights and promote their well-being. Let's join hands to unlock the potential of girls particularly in Africa.

Are you still hesitating? It is time to take action! Every girl deserves to fulfill her dreams.

#GirlPower