International Day of the Girl Child 2024 Theme
Each year, 11 October marks the International Day of the Girl Child. The theme for this year is “Girls’ vision for the future”. This message advocates for urgent action to break the barriers that exclude girls from the opportunities and experiences that their male peers disproportionately receive.
International Day of the Girl Child History
In 2011, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared this day to call out and acknowledge the specific barriers that girls face worldwide, and reach gender equity in education, health, and safety. This annual observance aims to amplify the voices of girls and mobilise global efforts to improve girls’ lives, whilst advocating for their rights. Each year, this day serves as a reminder of the urgent issues that inordinately affect girls, including poverty, violence and discrimination.
Why your support matters
Your support of Caritas Australia’s mission to work hand-in-hand with global partners to promote justice, can only be achieved through gender equity. Through our work, it is undeniable that empowering girls and women is the key to lifting societies out of poverty.
Ten critical facts about how poverty impacts girls globally
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Girls in extreme poverty are 2.5 times more likely to be out of school than boys. This gap is particularly pronounced in low-income countries where educational opportunities are limited for girls (UN Women, 2022).
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Over 100 million girls are at increased risk of experiencing child marriage in the next decade (UN, 2024).
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Girls living in poverty face limited access to healthcare, including reproductive and maternal health services. This increases their risk of early pregnancy, unsafe childbirth and contracting diseases such as HIV.
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One third of girls experience poverty worldwide (UNICEF, 2023).
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An estimated 129 million girls worldwide are out of school, including 32 million of primary school age, 30 million of lower-secondary school age and 67 million of upper-secondary school age (UNESCO, 2023).
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Gender gaps in labour start early, with girls in low-income families spending an average of 160 million more hours on household chores annually than boys (UNICEF, 2020).
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In Sub-Saharan Africa, 75 percent of girls under 18 living in rural areas face poverty. They are impacted by challenges related to food security, healthcare access and school attendance (World Bank, 2022).
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An estimated 4 million girls, predominantly living in poverty-stricken regions, are at risk of genital mutilation each year, which further limits their future prospects and health (UNFPA, 2022).
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Poverty disproportionately affects girls’ access to digital technology. In developing regions, only 33 percent of girls have access to the internet, compared to 47 percent of boys, limiting their access to educational resources (International Monetary Fund, 2021).
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One in five girls under the age of 18 worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence (UNICEF, 2022). Poverty, lack of education, cultural factors and a lack of legal rights further exacerbate this issue.
Laxmi is now an advisor at her child's club, helping nurture the next generation of young leaders. Photo: Richard Wainwright/Caritas Australia
Spotlight: Laxmi’s Story
Laxmi, a young girl from remote Nepal, grew up in poverty. After the death of her father, she left school, which could have led to her never finishing her education. With support from a child’s club through our partner Caritas Nepal, she resumed her studies and became a leader at her school. The program gave Laxmi the confidence to speak in public, continue her studies and advocate for other disadvantaged students, campaigning for clean water at her school. Now, she mentors younger students and aims to become a civil engineer.
Ending poverty means living in a world where we leave nobody behind. When girls thrive, communities flourish. Together, we must commit to a world where every girl can envision and achieve her future without limitations.
You can help create a brighter future where all young girls can thrive.
