Banasthali – United Nations International Day of the Girl Child 2018

Worldwide, today, more than 130 million girls of school age are out of school. In addition, of the 600 million adolescent girls who will enter the labor market in the next decade, more than 90% live in developing countries and will work in an informal economy where unpaid work, abuse and exploitation are more prevalent. Globally, women constitute less than 30% of employees in Information Technology companies as well as R&D institutions.

With the aim to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls' empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights, since 2012, October 11 every year has been marked as the International Day of the Girl Child in accordance with United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170.

UNESCO, the United Nations lead agency for education in the context of the 2030 Agenda, is working with the international community so that girls can benefit from 12 years of basic education free of charge. It is committed to ensuring that States include in school curricula issues relating to gender equality, health and sexuality, so as to break with the social habits and collective representations that impede girls’ freedom and constitute barriers to their intellectual formation and social and professional integration. The integration of girls in the changing world of work includes in particular improved access to science and technology careers, where they are too often underrepresented.

In order to encourage innovative teaching that helps girls to acquire the self confidence they need and that will reduce gender inequalities, UNESCO established in 2015, with the support of the Government of China, a Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education. This year, the Prize is awarded to the Misr El Kheir Foundation (Egypt), for supporting girls’ education in poor villages, and the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (Jamaica), so that it may continue its support for pregnant teenagers and young mothers in Jamaica, giving them a second chance to continue their education

If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world – both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders. An investment in realizing the power of adolescent girls upholds their rights today and promises a more equitable and prosperous future, one in which half of humanity is an equal partner in solving the problems of climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention, and global sustainability.

Educated and skilled workers are in great demand, but roughly a quarter of young people – most of them female – are currently neither employed or in education or training. Considering the fact that today's generation of girls is preparing to enter a world of work that is being transformed by innovation and automation, the theme chosen is With Her: A Skilled Girlforce.” The Message from UN Secretary - General António Guterres goes befittingly as “On this International Day of the Girl, let us recommit to supporting every girl to develop her skills, enter the workforce on equal terms and reach her full potential," While the Message from Dr. Natalia Kanem Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund goes as “We believe in the power of girls to change this world for the better. Let’s give them the chance.”

Banasthali which is world’s largest fully residential women’s university is committed to women awakening and empowerment through education. On 11 Oct 2018, BTech third year Chemical Engineering students Ms Avani Ganeshiya addressed the students giving significance of the day, Ms Ibha Singh presented an overview of the background for the day while Ms Shubhangi Vats highlighted the theme for the year. Faculty Sri Saurabh Joshi and Prof BR Natarajan anchored the proceedings and pointed out that when a mission is taken up with passion, there are no dreams too large, no innovation unattainable and no frontiers beyond reach.

For more details about Banasthali see http://www.banasthali.org/

About Banasthali: Established in 1935, the Institution which is also the largest fully residential women’s university in the world has played a big role in revolutionizing women’s education and empowerment in India for the last eight decades. Banasthali has scripted numerous success stories in a wide range of fields, and stands tall among the citadels of learning in India today. Proud to be Banasthali alumni who call themselves as Banasthalites can be found in all latitudes, longitudes and altitudes in all walks of life across the globe. Banasthali has the pride of being chosen as a Faculty Development Centre under the MHRD Govt of India Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching (PMMMNMTT) as well as for hosting Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) by NITI Aayog. Banasthali also has Quacquarelli Symonds QS Four Star Ranking and Diamond Status.

Banasthali Vidyapith
Banasthali Rajasthan – 304022
Phone 91 1438 228456 / 228341
Email: info@banasthali.ac.in
Website: http://www.banasthali.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Banasthali.org

This release was published on openPR.