Who Run the World? Girls!

By: Rabiya Asad, Marketing Fellow at Addis Ideas

“Empowerment of and investment in girls are key in breaking the cycle of discrimination and violence and in promoting and protecting the full and effective enjoyment of their human rights”

-United Nations Resolution 66/170

Since its inception in 2011, the International Day of the Girl is celebrated across the world to recognize the potential of 1.1 billion girls that inhabit this earth. Whether it be in the field of science, technology, arts, or athletics, young girls from Malala Yusufzai, a champion of girls’ rights, to Phiona Mutesi, an international chess prodigy, have shown that girls too have a lot to offer to this world. And yet they are constantly prevented from doing so.

Two of the most significant issues that prevent girls all across the world from realizing their dreams are child marriage and female illiteracy. One in three girls in developing countries (except China) get married before the age of 18. The rates of child marriage are highest in sub-Saharan Africa, where 4 in 10 girls get married before the age of 18. Early marriage often leads to physical and sexual violence, and girls bearing children before they are ready to do so. It also leads to girls being unable to pursue education. It is not surprising then that female illiteracy is just as high as child marriages are frequent. There are approximately 57.7 million illiterate female youth across the world. About 29 million live in sub-Saharan Africa.

The theme for this year’s International Day of the Girl Child is “Girls’ Progress = Goals Progress: A Global Girl Data Movement.” It is a call for action for an increased analysis of sex-disaggregated data, and a greater understanding of the issues that are preventing girls from attaining equal opportunities in life as boys.

This year, Addis Ideas is joining hands with other organizations and governments across the world in commemorating the International Day of the Girl Child. Our team strongly believes in a bottom-up approach to development where the ones experiencing an issue most are the best ones to propose solutions. That is how we will work to enhance African development. And in honor of International Girls’ Day, we would love to hear your development ideas about how girls in Africa and across the world can be empowered to achieve their dreams!

Just log on to www.app.addisideas.org to share your next big African development solution!

Happy International Day of the Girl!