By Martin Banks - 22nd September 2011
Girls are forced to face discrimination, neglect and victimization in all its form
Edite Estrela
MEPs have launched a written declaration calling for more awareness of the plight of girls and young women in Europe and around the world.
The demand for the UN to inaugurate 22 September as the international day of the girl was part of a series of events during this week's European week of action for girls in parliament.
The event was hosted by MEPs Catherine Stihler, Edite Estrela and Véronique Mathieu with support of the European parliamentary forum on population and development, Plan Europe and the world association of girl guides and girl scouts.
The week's activities included the launch of Plan 2011's report "Because I am a girl" and also features an exhibition of photographs entitled, "Change the picture – Help girls change their world", which will be displayed until Friday in the ground floor ASP entrance of parliament.
The Plan report said the majority of girls and young women around the world face discrimination and often violence and exclusion.
It says, "Girls and young women are barely involved in decision-making and are less protected by social and political systems."
Stihler told this website that an international day of the girl would be a "powerful way to highlight the particular needs and rights of girls, and to advocate for greater action and investment to enable girls to reach their full potential".
This, she said, would be in line with international human rights standards and obligations, including the millennium development goals.
Her comments were echoed by Estrela, deputy chair of the committee on women's rights and gender equality.
She said, "An international day for the girl will create a foundation for advocacy in the EU and beyond to ensure that girls get the investment and recognition they deserve as citizens and as powerful agents of change within their own families, communities and nations."
Estrela, along with the co-submitting Stihler and other MEPs Véronique Mathieu, Jean Lambert, Katarína Neved'alová and Roberta Angelilli, submitted the declaration to parliament on Thursday.
Estrela said, "In Europe and beyond, girls are among the most disadvantaged people on the planet. Girls and young women are the world's most valuable asset, but they are also its most vulnerable members.
"Girls are forced to face discrimination, neglect and victimisation in all its forms.
"Across the world, research has shown that girls are less likely to be enrolled in school, have less access to medical care and are more likely to suffer from malnutrition."
