WORLD CHILDREN’S DAY recognizes the plight and progress of childhood rights around the world, particularly of those for young women and girls. See the world through their eyes.
In 1989, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was established — creating one of the most influential human rights treaty in the world. But despite being widely ratified, millions of children still experience human rights violations every year. And one demographic is more disproportionately affected: girls.
Here are just a few of the shocking realities girls and young women face today:
- Every three seconds, a girl under 18 is married — 12 million girls each year
- 130 million girls are out of school — completion rates are below 50% in most poor countries
- Pregnancy and childbirth is the leading cause of death for girls ages 15-19
- 80% of the people trafficked each year are women and girls
- 150 million girls are sexually assaulted every year
- Women and young girls make up 50% of refugee and displaced populations
- Only 50% of girls in low-income countries have a right to having a legal identity
From Her Eyes: Life as a Girl in Yemen
Years of war have left the country of Yemen in a horrific state — millions of children are experiencing severe malnutrition because as a result of the country's devastated economy. One girl’s plight showed the world just how dire the situation is in Yemen. Her name was Amal.
The New York Times released a photograph of her back in 2018. Then, Amal Hussain was seven-years-old, seeking treatment at a field clinic. She was so malnourished she couldn’t speak, to the point where she couldn’t even move her hand to swat away a fly. Amal was just one of many children starving to death. Yet, her mother described Amal as “always smiling.”
Amal passed away five years ago, three days after she was discharged and returned to her camp — her parents unable to afford to take her to another clinic only 25 km (15 mi) away. But her portrait endures, as does the struggle for girls in war-torn and politically unstable countries, like Yemen and Afghanistan. Supporting organizations that fight for change and empower hope during times of catastrophe is essential for ensuring that all children have a future.
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