Last December the United Nations issued a resolution creating the International Day of the Girl Child, which begins being observed today (Oct 11, 2012). As Day of the Girls organizers emphasize, this day is about highlighting, celebrating, discussing, and advancing girls lives and opportunities across the globe. When girls come together to talk about what really matters to us, we can teach other people–grownups, boys, girls all across the world–a new way of thinking about issues like gender stereotypes, discrimination, and opportunity.
At the time the day was created no one could have imaged the tragic events that have befallen Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan who was shot this past Tuesday for her work advocating girls education in that country. At only 14 she became a leader with her father for girls eduction and at the same time a target of the Pakistani Taliban who targeted her for assassination. While reports currently say she is recovering, the country and the world has become so shocked and outraged by the incident that it is further promoting her cause and the need to address girls empowerment in all societies.
Below is a short cut version of a 2009 New York Times documentary about her work and life that is worth watching. (Viewer Warning: Some Violent Scenes)
Related Links: Stories and Opinion
- International Day of the Girl: Doing Right by Girls Everywhere (Huffington Post)
- Malala and the First International Day of the Girl (Huffington Post)
- Kristof: Her ‘Crime’ Was Loving Schools (New York Times)
- My conversations with Malala Yousafzai, the girl who stood up to the Taliban (Christian Science Monitor)
- Secretary Clinton Launches New Public and Private Initiatives To Raise the Status of Girls (US State Department)