This year’s theme of “Girl’s vision for the future” conveys the need for action and the persistent hope for a better future that does not diminish the critical years of a girl’s childhood development. Photo: Fr George Hogarty
"Girl's vision for the future"
“International Day of the Girl Child” is celebrated annually on the 11thof October and highlights global issues of injustice that many girls experience early on in their lives.
While girls can be the vision of childhood innocence, curiosity, and playful giggles, many girls around the world are forced to grow up quickly due to the lack of educational opportunities, hard domestic labour, child marriage, physical violence, and sexual exploitation.
Global statistics show: [1]
- 119 million girls do not go to school [2]
- Girls aged 5-14 spend 160 million more hours of domestic work than boys of the same age.
- 110 million girls are at risk of child marriage (often with much older men).
- 1 in 4 girls aged 15–19 will experience physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner.
Studies also show that the growing impacts of climate change will exacerbate these numbers, as 931 million girls around the world are set to experience at least one severe weather event (flood, cyclone, drought, wildfire or heatwave) in their lifetime. The impact of these increasingly frequent climate disasters is set to expose more girls to the risks of poverty, sexual abuse and exploitation, hard labour, and child marriage, while denying them their dignity, childhood, and access to good education and services.[3]
This year’s theme of “Girl’s vision for the future” conveys the need for action and the persistent hope for a better future that does not diminish the critical years of a girl’s childhood development. When provided with safety, support, resources, and opportunities, girls have the ability to impact and influence the future of their lives and that of their families.
At the first Catholic “World Children’s Day” that was held in Rome on the 25th and 26th of May this year, Cardinal Tolentino (Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education) stated that while we are enchanted by children, we are also hurt by the cry of “the little ones” who endure suffering. Pope Francis has also stressed the importance of fostering the dignity of girls,[4] just as Jesus fostered the dignity of the young girl in the Gospel of Mark 5:40 when he shielded her body from the mourning crowd before raising her from the dead in the presence of her parents and his disciples.
International Day of the Girl Child is a day to think of the girls in our daily lives - daughters, granddaughters, nieces, neighbours, school students, or Sunday School students. How can we, in small ways, ensure their safety and wellbeing so they can grow up knowing their worth while building up a strong sense of faith, justice, and peace?
“When adolescent girls are healthy, educated, and empowered with skills and opportunities to shape a bright future, they and their children - if they choose to have them in adulthood - have greater chances at a better life.” Dr. Natalia Kanem (UNFPA, Peru) - Photo: Fr George Hogarty
We also remember the girls around the world who do not have the opportunity to be educated, the girls who are experiencing firsthand the impacts of climate change, girls who experience child marriage, and girls who silently suffer under the oppressive acts of discrimination, violence, abuse, and exploitation. How can we support those who work to empower and safeguard the dignity of girls in these volatile situations?
We pray that girls everywhere may live life abundantly as God intended for them. May they be valued equally as precious and loved. We pray for girls who have been victims of abuse discrimination and violence, who feel unloved and rejected. May God heal their wounds and strengthen them to attain their potential to live fuller lives. We pray for those in authority - governments, organizations, churches, and society - that they be sensitive to issues affecting girls and adopt measures to promote their healthy and holistic development (Columban Prayer adapted from Good Shepherd Sisters in India and Nepal).
In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
Mariana Waqa is the Regional Schools & Community Partnerships Coordinator.
