Today, October 11, is the International Day of the Girl Child.

The 2019 Theme is  *GirlForce: Unscripted and Unstoppable*

Known as the Day of Girls, for short, the International Day of the Girl Child is a day that’s observed all over the world to bring a light to and fight the injustices and inequalities faced by girls based on their gender.

The day is marked by efforts both to raise awareness and to offer opportunities to girls and young women, addressing issues like access to education, healthcare rights, career and employment and much more.

History of International Day of the Girl Child

The day was initially a project designed by the non-governmental international organization, Plan International. It was inspired by their “Because I Am A Girl” campaign, which celebrated and encouraged the increasing role of girls and young women in efforts to raise awareness of gender issues across the world.

Eventually, Plan International urged the United Nations to get involved, and the first official Day of Girls took place in 2012, with a resolution backed by the international organization to cement it. Since then, International Day of the Girl Child has been celebrated with a new theme every year. Those themes tackle the issues girls and young women face, but especially in developing nations where they don’t have as strong a voice advocating for them.

Over the years, worldwide initiatives have been taken with aims such as ending child marriage, innovating education for girls, and training young women with skills to help them excel in the workplace. Since then, thousands of events are planned every year, across the world, both sponsored by the United Nations and by independent initiatives like nonprofits and local organizations.

Girls’ Power Initiative (GPI) Calabar Center, will host an event to mark the day on the 13th of October 2019.