Today is the third annual International Day of the Girl Child, a day to recognise and raise awareness of the challenges and injustices many girls and young women face internationally.
The International Day of the Girl Child was first marked in 2012 after a United Nations resolution establishing the annual event was declared in 2011. The theme this year is Empowering Adolescent Girls: Ending the Cycle of Violence.
The day is a global effort to improve the access of all girls around the world to basic human rights, including education.
Statistics show that:
• 1 in 5 girls around the world do not get an education due to poverty, violence and discrimination.
• 1 in 3 girls in developing countries is married by the age of 18.
• 150 million girls a year experience sexual violence.
While many of the issues the International Day of the Girl Child raises awareness about are occurring in developing countries, there is still more we need to do in Australia and Tasmania to protect women and girls.
We must continue to tackle the serious issue of sexual assaults and domestic violence against women and girls.
The Liberal Government is working with the Commonwealth Government to develop the Second Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, as well as uniting with the Commonwealth and other States and Territories to jointly fund the new Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS).
We are also implementing strategies under Taking Action: Tasmania’s Primary Prevention Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children.
To further protect women and children, this government will invest an additional $924,000 over 4 years into preventing sexual assault and increasing after hours sexual assault services.
Jacquie Petrusma, Minister for Women
