DUSHANBE, October 12, 2015, Asia-Plus — On International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC), young talents are calling for the end to gender inequalities and the protection of the human rights of young women and girls everywhere.
The new talents exhibition dedicated to the International Day of the Girl Child was launched by National Commission for UNESCO and UNESCO clubs of Tajikistan on October 11 with technical support from UN Joint Advocacy Project on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF) in Tajikistan (UN JAP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Tajikistan and civil society organizations.
The event, which took place at the “Padida” Theater in Dushanbe, reportedly brought together around 400 young talents and their parents, civil society organizations, international organization, youth and volunteers.
“The main purpose of this competition was in promoting the ideas and values of institution of family, gender equality, providing opportunities for empowering girls and developing their potential. We should understand that healthy family is a healthy society. The family is an important factor of development, and its role in upbringing of decent citizens of the country is invaluable”, has mentioned Sarvar Bakhti, Executive Secretary of National Commission for UNESCO in Tajikistan.
In a short period of time around 300 artworks were submitted from all over the country to UNESCO clubs. Juries representing art galleries and studios selected the best 25 works among more than 300. The winners received memorable gifts from the organizers. It should be mentioned that children representing the vulnerable groups of population to HIV/AIDS also participated in this context and most of their works were highly appreciated and rewarded.
“All children living with HIV have the same rights and responsibilities as all other. Policies need to be in place to ensure a child living with HIV at school is not subjected to stigma and discrimination or bullying, and that their status is kept confidential. Also HIV-awareness programs are important to encourage openness about HIV rather than silencing it. We need to use all tools to reach young people, including through social groups, the media, and peer outreach,” said Parvina Ahmedova, head of civil society organization “Bovari +”.
In 2011, a United Nations resolution established 11 October as the International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC), a day designated for promoting the rights of girls and addressing the unique challenges they face. The inaugural day in 2012 focused on the issue of ending child marriage; in 2013 the theme was “Innovating for Girls’ Education”; and in 2014 the theme was “Empowering Adolescent Girls: Ending the Cycle of Violence”.
As the lead agency for the Day, UNICEF, in consultation with other United Nations agencies and civil society partners, selected as this year’s theme, “The Power of the Adolescent Girl: Vision for 2030.” This year, as the international community assesses progress under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) since their implementation in 2000 and launches the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for implementation by 2030, girls born at the turn of the millennium have reached adolescence, and the generation of girls born this year will be adolescents in 2030.
