11 October 2013: Celebrations took place around the world in recognition of the International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October 2013. This year’s theme of ‘Innovating for Girls’ Education’ aimed to recognize the transformative role of girls’ education in development outcomes and the need for innovation to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on gender equality in education. This theme also motivated three e-discussions on the post-2015 development agenda.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) organized celebrations including: Erasing Barriers to Girls’ Education; Game Changers for Girls’ Education; and a Google Hangout with UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. UN Women and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) launched Voices against Violence, a non-formal education curriculum focused on ending violence against women and girls.

In a message for the Day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted his Global Education First Initiative and recommended addressing the concerns and potential of the world’s girls through the MDGs and the post-2015 agenda. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women Executive Director, said “universal quality public education that is engendered is key to providing a strong foundation for democracy, women’s empowerment and the realization of equality.” She noted that too many girls continue to be left behind on the MDGs.

The first of the three e-discussions hosted on the World We Want 2015 platform, ‘Innovation in Education Infrastructure,’ discussed strategies to address and overcome barriers girls face in education. Strategies shared by participants included: supporting children’s rights to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); providing gender-sensitive sanitation facilities; forming information, communications and technology (ICT) clubs; encouraging job shadowing; and providing girls-only transportation.

In the ‘Innovating for Girls Education and Gender Sensitivity’ e-discussion, one participant shared a project linking girls from low-income families in Central Asia with mentors from Central Asia who now live in Europe and North America via regular Skype discussions, to encourage girls to continue education, among other goals. Another participant suggested focusing on girls as a collective group rather than the girl individually. Participants also shared examples on: encouraging boys to defend girls’ rights; supporting separate but equal schools; thinking beyond primary education; and addressing gender-based violence.

‘Innovating to Education Girls with Disabilities’ discussed defining disabilities, making schools physically accessible, enrolling disabled children in mainstream schools, and creating inclusive playgrounds, among other strategies. [UN Website for International Day of the Girl Child] [UN Press Release] [UNICEF Website for Day] [Statement of UN Secretary-General] [Statement of UN Women] [UN Women Press Release on Voices Against Violence] [Education E-discussions]