The U.S. recently joined their partners at the United Nations in recognizing the need to do more towards supporting girls in living safe, healthy and empowered lives.
In a release by the State Department on the International Day of the Girl Child, state officials said girls face unique challenges and barriers that impede their ability to achieve goals. The day of observance aims to raise awareness of these issues.
"Girls are critical participants in our local and global communities, poised to be at the forefront of the world’s greatest challenges, including ending gender-based violence, addressing the climate crisis, and advancing racial and gender equity and equality," state officials said in the release.
The U.S. concedes that unequal access to education and healthcare, fear of violence and challenges exacerbated by COVID-19 are all added barriers girls face, the release states. By promoting education, leadership and preventing or actively responding to gender-based violence, the U.S. hopes to advance gender equity across the country.
Education disruptions caused by the worldwide pandemic are expected to have lasting impacts on the most marginalized girls, the release says, with 20 million more likely out of school.
Moving forward, the government will partner with girls and their communities to advance gender equity and equality across society, the release states. This includes strengthening responses to sexual harassment and abuse in education, female genital mutilation practices and disincentivizing forced marriages that keep girls out of school.
