Celebrating the Power of Girls on International Day of the Girl
Today, we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, recognising the rights of girls and the challenges they face globally. Aligned with this year’s theme, Girls' Vision for the Future , our Loreto Normanhurst students have been actively contributing to global conversations on gender equality as part of the IBVM/CJ UN Youth Advocacy Group. Their passion for creating a better world for all girls shines through in their work, and we are proud to share their journey.
Today, Friday, 11 October, we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child , a day that recognises the rights of girls and the unique challenges they face globally. This year's theme, Girls' Vision for the Future , aligns perfectly with the work our students at Loreto Normanhurst have been doing as part of the IBVM/CJ UN Youth Advocacy Group.
At Loreto Normanhurst, we believe in empowering our students to be advocates for change—just as Mary Ward stood against the soft bigotry of low expectations for girls and women in her time, our girls are continuing this legacy today. As members of the IBVM/CJ UN Youth Advocacy Group, our Year 10, 11, and 12 students have been actively contributing to global conversations that aim to amplify girls’ voices in social, economic, and political life.
In the lead-up to the 69th Commission on the Status of Women, our students took part in Conversation Circles, a core aspect of our tradition where all voices are heard and valued equally. These Circles offered a platform for our girls to discuss the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, focusing on key areas for advancing gender equality:
- Promoting the girl child's awareness and participation in social, economic, and political life.
- Eliminating discrimination against girls in health and nutrition.
- Eradicating negative cultural attitudes and practices that harm girls.
Our students’ passion shone through in their recommendations, tackling issues such as the harmful impact of gender stereotypes in careers, the need for more education around nutrition, and the pressures of edited social media imagery. Their contributions were submitted to the UN's Working Group on Girls to inform global advocacy efforts.
In addition to these discussions, the girls conducted interviews with staff and fellow students on this year’s theme, asking two powerful questions:
- What does the world look like for girls today?
- What do you hope the world will look like for girls in the future?
The girls’ reflections were captured in a video that has been submitted for global sharing via the IBVM/CJ NGO. You can view it below.
This ongoing involvement with the UN Youth Advocacy Group is a testament to our commitment to nurturing compassionate warriors—young women who are driven by social justice, ready to stand up and challenge the status quo, and passionate about creating a future of equality and opportunity for all girls.
On this International Day of the Girl Child, we celebrate not only the incredible achievements of our students but also their powerful vision for a better tomorrow.
