This Friday, October 11 is the second annual observance of the International Day of the Girl Child. This year's theme is Innovation in Girls' Education. Events celebrating girls and exploring the unique challenges that they face are happening at the UN. There are also opportunities being provided for girls themselves to gather and connect with one another on these issues as well as speak and be heard by those who do the work of the UN from various member states.
Education activist and Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Malala Yousafzai, a 16 year old girl from Pakistan was in New York this week and appeared on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. You can watch the full interview online. If you don't like being inspired, then this video isn't for you. Only a year ago, just before the first celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child, Malala was shot by members of the Taliban because of her advocacy for girls education. This year on July 12th, her 16th birthday, the UN celebrated Malala Day where she gave her first public speech since the attack to the General Council of the UN. Her new book "I am Malala" speaks about her experiences living in Swat Valley in Pakistan and her work to promote education, especially for girls.
Achieving universal primary education is one of the Millennium Development Goals which the UN set out to achieve by 2015. The 58th UN Commission on the Status of Women coming up in March of 2014 will review the challenges and achievements in the implementation of the MDGs for women and girls. We will be lucky to have two young people as part of our group from IAWN Canada this year. Their views and experiences will add a great deal to the conversation when we gather in New York in March. Hopefully we will soon be able to share some of these views with readers here on the blog as they prepare for their participation in this event.
I can't speak more powerfully about the importance of universal education than Malala can - so it's best to just watch the video. As someone who is lucky enough to work with and for young people in the Church, hearing Malala speak reminds me why it is important. There are many voices like Malala's that need to be heard in our faith communities. I hope to help make this a reality. Just as importantly, they need the opportunity to hear and connect with one another. So share Malala's story, it is one we all need to hear.
