UNICEF Maharashtra shines a spotlight on girls’ rights ahead of International Day of the Girl Child
Mumbai : The International Day of the Girl Child (IDG) – observed annually on 11th October – is a global platform to advocate for the full spectrum of girls’ rights. Despite significant strides in gender equality, girls continue to face formidable challenges across various aspects of life, including health, education, gender-based violence, and equal opportunities.
In alignment with this year’s theme, “Invest in Girls’ Rights – Our Leadership, Our Well-being”, UNICEF organized a thought-provoking meet-up for children and adolescents featuring renowned actress Mithila Palkar, held today at the UNICEF Mumbai office. The event aimed to foster discussions on the status quo and potential solutions for raising awareness about girls’ rights and empowering children and youth to advocate for their own rights. Participants also discussed the role of boys and men in advancing gender equality and why gender equality is vital for a country’s progress.
Moreover, the event addressed the critical issue of climate crisis, underscoring the profound impact it has on children’s rights, particularly those of girls.
While interacting with the students, Mithila Palkar said “Growing up, I was lucky to not face gender inequality at home, however this is a privilege for many girls in our country. We need to understand that women need to be heard, be it for studies in school, leadership in business or voice in policy making, and we need to imbibe this culture among children from a young age. Schools will play an important role to fill this gap and to be more open to have conversations about gender disparity and societal norms. Parents and caregivers should make a safe space for their children to speak out and teach them to share the care work at home, rather than defining jobs as per genders. All in all, we need to invest in girls’ rights for the betterment of our nation.”
Rajalakshmi Nair, Chief Field Office (AI), UNICEF Maharashtra said “I find it heartening that adolescents & young people are actively discussing and advocating for the rights of girls. It’s inspiring to see them express their opinion about gender equality. While the government, policymakers, and the social sector have made substantial efforts to improve the situation, there is still much work to be done to ensure the well-being of girls in the areas of health, nutrition, education and skills, gender-based violence, and prevention of child marriage. We need to bring more voices of adolescents and young people to start the dialogue and conversation around gender equality.”
Students from diverse backgrounds and institutions, including PRATYeK (Nine is mine), Citizens Association for Child Rights (CACR), as well as IIT Bombay, Whistling Woods International, and Sophia College (autonomous), actively participated in the meet-up.
The event concluded with a pledge made by all the participants to combat gender discriminatory practices in their homes, educational institutions, among their peers, and within their communities.