International Day of The Girl Child: 10 Facts About The State of Girls In The World

The United Nations declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, with the first Day of the Girl celebrated in 2012. The international day of observance was established to put a spotlight on gender inequality that millions of girls face in the world, just because they are girls. Among the challenges that girls face are basic rights such as the right to education, to health and social service, to have protection against discrimination, violence and child marriage. What challenges do girls face all over the world? Let us run down 10 facts about girls according to Girl Rising, an international campaign for girls.

Access to Education

1. UNESCO estimates that around 31 million girls who are of primary school age are not in school; and two thirds (⅔) of the world’s illiterate adults are comprised of women.
2. In 2013, one quarter of young women between the ages of 15-24 or 116 million women living in developing countries are said to have not completed primary school. These same number of women naturally do not have the necessary skills for work.
3. A USAID 2015 report pegged the number of girls who are not in school to 62 million.

Why Girls Education is Important

1. Girls who are educated have the potential to contribute to a country’s economic growth. A UNFPA report in 2012 estimated that if girls in India were to get the same education opportunities as the boys, India would see its economy grow by $33 billion.
2. According to USAID, for each year spent in secondary school, a girl can increase her “future earnings” by as much as 10 to 20%.

Educated Girls and the Choices They Make

1. Educated girls who eventually become mothers will make better and informed choices as a mother. According to USAID, each year of education translates to a reduction in the chances of infant mortality by 5 to 10%.
2. USAID also cited that girls who are able to finish secondary school are 6 times less likely to become child brides or be married off as children.

Realities that Girls Face Today

1. According to the UNFPA, 13.5 million children, mostly girls will be married even before they turn 18. A shocking 4.4 million children will be married before 15 years of age.
2. In relation to child brides, there is a danger for young girls if they become pregnant and eventually give birth. The World Health Organization says that the second leading cause of death about girls between 15 to 19 year of age is pregnancy and childbirth.

This year’s theme is “Girls’ Progress = Goals’ Progress: A Global Girl Data Movement” which calls on governments and other actors to put in more resources in “collecting and analyzing girl-focused, girl-relevant and sex-disaggregated data.” With such data in place, governments can better address the issues and challenges that young girls are facing today. For more information about this important day, visit the UN Women website.