As the world observes the International Day of the Girl Child, calls for action have arisen to support and empower girls globally.
This year’s theme, “Girls’ Vision for the Future,” inspired leaders and advocates worldwide to address ongoing issues affecting girls’ rights.
United Nations Appeals to Taliban for Girls’ Rights in Afghanistan
The United Nations marked the day with sorrow over the Taliban’s ban on girls’ secondary education in Afghanistan, a restriction in place for over three years.
In Kabul, Roza Otunbayeva, head of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, urged the Taliban to “change course.” Stating the impact of this ban, she noted, “This is more than three years of lost opportunity – not just for millions of girls, but for families, communities, and the entire country.”
Otunbayeva pledged the U.N.’s continued support for Afghan women and girls despite restrictions preventing women and girls above age 12 from working in public and private sectors or accessing parks and gyms.
Recent Taliban laws also mandate women cover their entire bodies, including faces, in public and prohibit interactions between unrelated men and women. The Taliban justified these policies as in line with Sharia law, rejecting international criticism as interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
Nigeria’s First Lady Celebrates Nigerian Girls
First Lady Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu in Nigeria celebrated the day by encouraging girls to “dream big.”
“Every girl should be able to dream of a future where she can grow without limits,” she said.
She affirmed that an educated girl is “a transformed woman” who can make informed choices that impact her health, family, and community. She also urged Nigerian girls to “be strong, confident, and determined” to reach their potential.
UNICEF Emphasizes Global Challenges for Girls
UNICEF, represented by Celine Lafoucriere, Chief of the UNICEF Field Office for South-West Nigeria, stated the barriers facing girls worldwide, noting that “too many are being left behind, confronted by extreme challenges that deny them their rights, restrict their choices, and limit their future.”
She cited concerning statistics, including that one in five young women aged 20–24 was married as a child and that 75% of new HIV infections among adolescents occur in girls.
Emphasizing the day as a global moment to amplify girls’ voices, Lafoucriere noted, “When girls achieve their goals, we all move closer to achieving our global goals.”
Historic Nigerian Legislative Session with Youth Leadership
In Abuja, Nigeria’s House of Representatives marked the day by holding a historic session on Thursday, October 10, where Speaker Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., temporarily vacated his seat for Isabel Anani, a 16-year-old gender advocate. Anani, acting as “Shadow Speaker,” shared her vision of a world where girls’ education is considered essential, not a privilege. “I envision a future where every girl, regardless of her background, has the opportunity to flourish,” she said.
During this session, the House supported initiatives to combat drug abuse and proposed amendments to the Child’s Rights Act to protect sexually abused children.
Speaker Abbas celebrated Nigerian girls, stating, “girls are not only the leaders of tomorrow; they are catalysts for change today.”
