UN calls for governments to work towards “Empowering adolescent girls: ending the cycle of violence”

A resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2011, declared 11^th October ‘The International Day of the Girl Child.’ In the light of the prevalent gender discrimination and violence against women, the United Nations has chosen to work towards the empowerment of adolescent girls this year.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told UN News Centre, “The threat of violence at the hands of family members, partners, teachers and peers grossly violates their rights, diminishes their power and suppresses their potential… Girls are subjected to discriminatory social norms and harmful practices – such as female genital mutilation – that perpetuate a cycle of violence. A culture of impunity allows violence against adolescent girls to continue unabated.”

As a part of this year’s theme, “empowering adolescent girls: ending the cycle of violence;” governments, the UN system, civil society, and public and private institutions are being called on to work together in achieving this year’s goal.

The United Nations recently launched a HeForShe campaign, with actress Emma Watson as their brand ambassador that aimed to draw men to work towards gender discrimination. The Secretary-General also said that ending gender violence and promoting the empowerment of girls and women must be at the heart of the global agenda as the countries review progress achieved under the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

UN News Centre>

In a shocking research conducted by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), it was found that over 70 million girls aged 15 to 19 have been subjected to physical violence and 120 million girls under the age of 20 have been abused sexually, across the world.  UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Geeta Rao Gupta feels, “These numbers speak to a mind-set that tolerates, perpetuates, and even justifies violence – and should sound an alarm to everyone, everywhere.”

She adds, “The promise made to girls at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing must be delivered. Protecting girls from all forms of violence and promoting girls’ empowerment must be at the heart of the global development agenda.”

ORIGINAL SOURCE: UN News Centre

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=49056#.VDitNvmSySo