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To recognize and to celebrate October 11, 2021 as the International Day of the Girl in the City of Columbus. To recognize and celebrate October 11, 2021 as the International Day of the Girl in the City of Columbus and to applaud Proyecto Mariposa and the Dominican Sisters of Peace for their support of girls.
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WHEREAS, the concept of the International Day of the Girl first began as a part of the World Conference on Women in Beijing, China which was held in 1995 - this conference was the catalyst of change as it allowed countries to unanimously adopt the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action which at the time was the most progressive blueprint for advancing the rights of women and girls in the world as it specifically called out the rights of girls; and
WHEREAS, The United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 on December 19, 2011 declaring October 11th as the International Day of the Girl recognizing the rights of girls and the unique challenges facing girls around the world - the International Day of the Girl focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face by promoting the empowerment of girls and the fulfillment of their human rights - Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years, but also as they mature into women - it is believed that with effective support during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world - both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders - this investment in realizing the power of adolescent girls upholds their rights and promises a more equitable and prosperous future, one in which half of humanity is an equal partner to solving the problems of climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention, and global sustainability; and
WHEREAS, the theme for the 2021 International Day of the Girl is “Digital generation. Our generation;” Helping girls know their digital realities and the solutions they need to pave paths to freedom of expression, joy and boundless potential - let’s commit to widening these pathways so that this generation of girls can become a generation of technologists; and
WHEREAS, the Generation Equality Forum launched a five-year commitment in 2021, advocating bolder solutions to gender inequality - the 2 year COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digital platforms for learning, earning and connecting - some 2.2 billion people below the age of 25 still do not have internet access at home; girls are more likely to be cut off; the gender gap for global internet users has grown from 11 % in 2013 to 17 % in 2019, in developing countries, this number is around 43 % - the gender digital divide is about more than connectivity - girls are also less likely than boys to use and own devices and less likely to gain access to tech-related skills and jobs - we must address inequity and exclusion which spans geographies and generations - ushering in a digital revolution for all, and with all; and
WHEREAS, The 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by world leaders in 2015, adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals - embodying a sustainable roadmap for progress, aspiring to leave no one behind and achieving gender equality and empowerment for women, which is integral to justice, inclusion, and sustainability - these goals aspire to create a shared healthy environment for future generations of girls; and
WHEREAS, Girls continue to break through boundaries and barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion, including barriers directed at children with disabilities and girls from marginalized communities - this proves that girls can become entrepreneurs, innovators, and initiators of global movements, moreover they can create a world that is relevant for them as well as future generations of girls, now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby recognize the theme “Digital generation - Our generation;” and celebrate October 11, 2021 as the International Day of the Girl in the City of Columbus.
WHEREAS, the concept of the International Day of the Girl first began as a part of the World Conference on Women in Beijing, China which was held in 1995 - this conference was the catalyst of change as it allowed countries to unanimously adopt the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action <https://www.un.org/en/events/pastevents/pdfs/Beijing_Declaration_and_Platform_for_Action.pdf> which at the time was the most progressive blueprint for advancing the rights of women and girls in the world as it specifically called out the rights of girls; and
WHEREAS, The United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 <http://undocs.org/A/RES/66/170> on December 19, 2011 declaring October 11th as the International Day of the Girl recognizing the rights of girls and the unique challenges facing girls around the world - the International Day of the Girl focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face by promoting the empowerment of girls and the fulfilment of their human rights; and
WHEREAS, the theme for the 2021 International Day of the Girl is “Digital generation. Our generation;” Helping girls know their digital realities and the solutions they need to pave paths to freedom of expression, joy and boundless potential - let’s commit to widening these pathways so that this generation of girls can become a generation of technologists; and
WHEREAS, some 2.2 billion people below the age of 25 still do not have internet access at home; girls are more likely to be cut off; the gender gap for global internet users has grown from 11 % in 2013 to 17 % in 2019, in developing countries, this number is around 43 %; and
WHEREAS, Proyecto Mariposa, started on July 16, 2011 - they are a part of the Dominican Sisters of Peace who are members of the Order of Preachers vowed Catholic Sisters who strive to live a life of peacemaking wherever they are and in everything they do - they follow the Gospel and the tradition of the Roman Catholic Church and work to build a more peaceful world through their ministries, their prayer and their way of life - in the Dominican tradition, prayer, community, ministry and study are at the heart of their vocation - Proyecto Mariposa on average connects with 90 girls and 40 moms each year - during their first year they served 30 girls and 10 moms - to date they have served over 700 girls and 300 moms and provided more than 1500 volunteer hours to include bilingual programming - their premier events include: Valiente y Fuerte, Dia de la Niña, a Summer Camp, Mochilas para Mariposas, and Quinceañera - they generally have meetings on Saturdays and thus far they have one student who has graduated from college and nine Mariposas who are currently enrolled in college; and
WHEREAS, this Council, pursuant to the Commission on Black Girls Quality of Life Report, recognizes that girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years, but also as they mature into women - it is believed that with effective support, girls have the potential to change the world - both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders - this investment in girls upholds their rights and promises a more equitable and prosperous future, one in which half of humanity is an equal partner to solving the problems of climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention, and global sustainability - breaking the barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion -girls can become entrepreneurs, innovators, and initiators of global movements, moreover they can create a world that is relevant for them and future generations of girls, now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby recognize and celebrate October 11, 2021 as the International Day of the Girl in the City of Columbus and applaud Proyecto Mariposa and the Dominican Sisters of Peace for their support of girls.