Patents on the soles of your shoes...: International Day of the Girl Child 2019

Twenty-four years ago, in 1995, on the occasion of the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing, China, The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, was adopted. A 132-page Declaration that captures baseline precedence on the status of women worldwide, while remaining the blueprint for action to date.

Indeed, It is in this Declaration (p.3) that “Women’s rights are human rights” was proclaimed, together with the designation of 12 key areas in need of critical action. Among the key areas identified, The girl child (p. 109), with a call for 26 specific points of urgent action. For example, urgent action to end the violence of female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriages and sexual abuse; or urgent action to ensure equal access to sufficient nutrition for the girl child, to schooling, training, mental and healthcare services; as well as public action, more generally directed at guaranteeing that the girl child will be able to reach her full potential and skills.

Since then, the girl child has not been forsaken, at least in principle, if not on a case by case basis. In particular, the girl child was included within the context of the first UN Millenium Development Goals (MDG), followed by the second UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), a vast UN-led program of action, in increments of 15 years, launched for the purposes of ending poverty and inequities worldwide. Thus, girls now have greater access to elementary education. Girls are also now backed by the findings of the first UN MDG program, possibly some of the most revolutionary findings of gender equality research, namely that "equality for women and girls is progress for all". Where women, and girls in their footsteps, do better, lead happier, healthier, educated and productive lives, the rest of the society, or nation does better.

However, despite findings and documented achievements in improving equal access to the basics of nutrition, education and healthcare services for the girl child, over the course of a quarter-century, reports on the status of the group, and individual cases of the girl child, remain heartbreaking. Here are some of the global numbers that are still in need of slashing, followed by those specific to West and Central Africa, one of the most destitute regions of the world.
Global figures

12 million girls under 18 are married
130 million girls worldwide are still out of school
133 million girls and women have experienced female genital mutilation (FMG) in 29 countries of Africa and the Middle East
15 million girls and adolescents have experienced sexual abuse

West and Central Africa

Twenty-eight percent of young women aged 20-24 have given birth before the age of 18. Adolescent birth rates are greatest among the poorest households and adolescent pregnancy is a major cause of death among 15-19-year-old girls. (Banati, P. & C. Muller, 10 Oct. 2019)
Exposure to violence increases risks of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Girls account for seventy-six percent of new HIV infections among adolescents aged 10-19 in WCAR. (Banati, P. & C. Muller, 10 Oct. 2019)

Today’s theme for the International Day of the Girl Child celebrates the resilience of the girl child: Girl force: Unscripted and unstoppable. Below the official UN Youtube video.