- Conference
- 2017 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 10 October 2016
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes that in 2011, as the result of youth advocacy around the world, the United Nations declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child. Its mission is “to help galvanize worldwide enthusiasm for goals to better girls’ lives, providing an opportunity for them to show leadership and reach their full potential.”
International Day of the Girl Child is a day when activist groups come together under the same goal to highlight, discuss, and take action to advance rights and opportunities for girls everywhere. The day gives people and organizations the opportunity to raise public awareness of the different types of discrimination and abuse that many girls around the world suffer from. On this day, many community and political leaders talk to the public about the importance of girls’ rights to equal education and their fundamental freedoms. Various events are held to showcase the work that people are doing to empower girls through active support and engagement with parents, families, and the wider community.
However, Conference notes that this day is not widely publicised within the union or the organisations we work in.
To address this and to highlight the day and the work done by the UN and other organisations Conference calls on the NWC to:
1) Work with other relevant bodies such as UNISON international committee and SOG’s to raise awareness of the day.
2) Consider inviting a speaker to the National Women’s Conference 2018, to highlight the work that has been done to raise awareness of the different forms of discrimination and abuse faced by girls around the world.
3) Work to be part of the 2018 celebrations in London