The OSCE-supported Women’s Resource Centres celebrate International Day of the Girl across the regions of Tajikistan

The OSCE-supported Women’s Resource Centres (WRCs) in Tajikistan together with local authorities celebrated the International Day of the Girl under the theme “Empowering Girls” in rural regions of Tajikistan on 11 October 2018. The campaign was organized around various thematic activities, which included painting contests, fashion design competitions, conferences and sessions bringing together different rural communities. It aimed at raising awareness of girls’ and boys’ equal rights to opportunities in society.

The International Day of the Girl is also an occasion to highlight the importance of school attendance among girls, as well as the issue of forced marriage, which affects particularly rural girls. More than 300 people participated in the activities, including 170 young women and 20 young people with disabilities.

Since 2012, 11 October has been marked as the International Day of the Girl. It was declared by the UN General Assembly to protect girls around the world from discrimination and violence and ensure their right to education and security.