Speech

Andrew Mitchell: The UN's International Day of the Girl

Speech by Andrew Mitchell on the UN's designation of October 11 as the UN International Day of the Girl.

• From: Department for International Development and The Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP
• Published: 19 December 2011

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

• Delivered on: 19 December 2011 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

The evidence is clear: investing in girls and women is critical to fighting poverty. It is absolutely shocking that the biggest barrier to a healthy and successful life for millions of the world’s poorest people is their gender.

‘The Day of the Girl will help raise awareness of this inequality, reminding the world that giving girls and women better access to education, healthcare and jobs, and a voice in decision making, helps makes societies healthier, more prosperous and peaceful.

The new day of action, adopted by the United Nations in a vote today, aims to promote girls’ rights, highlight gender inequalities between girls and boys and address the various forms of discrimination suffered by girls around the globe.

Published 19 December 2011