The United Nations declared 11 October as the International Day of the Girl to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.
Climate change is not just about the increasing frequency and intensity of floods, fires, storms and droughts. It is also about the way these events rob girls of their futures.
When families lose their livelihoods due to an extreme weather event, they are pushed into poverty. Sometimes they sell their daughters for a bride price, so they can use the money to feed the rest of the family. Also, selling their daughters into marriage, means there is one less mouth to feed at home.
Around the world, it is estimated that approximately 23 girls a minute are married under the age of 18.
Zonta International’s signature project aims to end child marriage in 12 countries.
Dr Faith Mwangi-Powell from Girls not Brides, explains in this video how climate change is a code red for girls – and how adolescent girls are ambassadors in their own communities to stop the practice, so girls can go to school. [8 mins]
Save the Children describes that two thirds of child marriages happen in regions with higher-than-average climate risks.
UNICEF cites a study (p19) showing that a 10 per cent increase or decrease in annual rainfall is linked to a one per cent increase in child marriage – a 30 per cent increase/decrease would mean a 3 per cent rise in child marriage.
UNICEF also points out that in 70 per cent of households, women and girls are responsible for collecting water from outside the home. Drought means that many women and girls must walk further each day to find water – increasing the risk of them being assaulted. As it takes longer to walk further, it also means there is less time to learn and play.
By taking gender-equal climate action, we can help to reduce the impacts of climate change, close the gender gaps and give hope to girls that climate change will not end their dreams of going to school.
You can raise awareness of the Day of the Girl by sharing these Zonta Says NOW social media posts:
