International Day of the Girl Child – A reminder that girls are entitled to the space to grow, excel and to be safe
By Department of Home Affairs and Gender Affairs
The Department of Home Affairs and the Honourable Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyotte,
Minister for the Public Service, Home Affairs, Labour and Gender Affairs joins in the commemoration of the International day of the Girl Child which took place on Tuesday , October 11, 2022.
The theme, “Our time is now—our rights, our future” is deemed to be a fitting one as it brings into focus the right of girls to have access to the opportunities that will position and prepare them to fulfill their potential and to have a successful, productive future. The year 2022, commemorates the 10th anniversaryof the International Day of the Girl (IDG).
The Department of Home Affairs wishes to further highlight the need for the girls and young women of Saint Lucia to be provided with the supporting environment to grow up to become leaders in the society. They should be protected from the scourge of human trafficking, sex and labour trafficking, child abuse, sexual abuse, rape and under- age pregnancies.
Families, government officials, policymakers and stakeholders must all continue to play a pivotal role in addressing the vulnerabilities confronting the girl child.
According to the United Nations “Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and, therefore, also half of its potential. Gender equality, besides being a fundamental human right, is essential to achieve peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development. Moreover, it has been shown that empowering women spurs productivity and economic growth”.
In 1995 at the World Conference on Women in Beijing, countries unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing the rights of not only women but girls. The Beijing Declaration is the first to specifically call out the rights of girls.
