Updated: October 1, 2023
The United Nations marks October 11 as the International Day of the Girl since 2012. International Day of the Girl focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.
International Day of the Girl Child – United Nations
2023 theme: “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being”
The International Day of the Girl (IDG) – observed annually on 11 October – is a global platform to advocate for the full spectrum of girls’ rights. This year, at a time when we are seeing a range of movements and actions to curtail girls’ and women’s rights and roll back progress on gender equality, we see particularly harsh impacts on girls. From maternal health care and parenting support for adolescent mothers, to digital and life skills training; from comprehensive sexuality education to survivor support services and violence prevention programs; there is an urgent need for increased attention and resourcing for the key areas that enable girls to realize their rights and achieve their full potential.
International Day of the Girl 2023: Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being – UNICEF
UNICEF’s 2021 Generation Equality Forum – Tech Trailblazers, Teen Girl Activists, Coping with COVID-19, and Girls’ Satellites:
- Tech Trailblazers – Meet eight diverse and vibrant adolescent girls and young women technologists who embody the hope of change possible if we only invest more in girl- and young-women-designed learning solutions fit for their digital world.
- Teen Girl Activist – An entire generation of teens is speaking up and out for equality. These are the stories of five young women from Senegal, Ecuador, Afghanistan, Armenia, and South Africa done waiting for change to come their way.
- Coping with COVID-19 – A pandemic through a girl’s eyes: 16 adolescent girls from nine countries film their lives under lockdown.
- Girls’ Satellites Soar to the Stars – Kazakhstan’s nanosatellite initiative propels girls to the forefront of science and technology.
Visit UN Women In Focus webpages for past International Day of the Girl Child information: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012
What Girl Activists Across the World Are Calling For In 2023 – Plan International
17 kids’ books to celebrate International Day of the Girl – Motherly
Zonta International is a leading global organization of individuals working together to build a better world for women and girls.
Zonta is dedicated to achieving gender equality in education and supports scholarships, fellowships and awards for women and girls pursuing education and careers in these traditionally male-dominated fields.
- Amelia Earhart Fellowship – Zonta annually awards up to 30 Fellowships of US$10,000 each to women pursuing Ph.D./doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering and space sciences.
- Women in Business Scholarship – Zonta helps women pursuing undergraduate and master’s degrees in business management with 37 international scholarships of US$5,000 each.
- Women in STEM Scholarship – Women of any age, pursuing a program in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) at an accredited university/college/institute, who demonstrate outstanding potential in the field and are living or studying in a Zonta district/region, are eligible. The 2023 Women in STEM recipients will receive an international scholarship of US$5,000 from Zonta International.
- Young Women in Public Affairs Award – Because Zonta International believes that young women are the key to women’s advancement in the field of public service, it offers the Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) Award, which recognizes young women, ages 16-19, for demonstrating leadership skills and commitment to public service and civic causes, and encourages them to continue their participation in public and political life. The program operates at the Zonta club, district/region and international levels. Zonta International offers 37 international awards of US$5,000. Each district/region may submit one applicant for consideration for an international scholarship. The five largest districts may submit a second applicant for a total of two applicants.
Zonta International partners include UNFPA, UNICEF USA, Girls Not Brides, Coalition to End Violence Against Women and Girls Globally and Women’s Empowerment Principles.
Zonta Club of Greater Queens, a local chapter of Zonta International, has supported the Center for the Women of New York over the years.