The International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated every year on October 11 across the world, including in Pakistan, with the aim of raising voice against issues being faced by girls including gender discrimination, human rights violations, and ensuring equal opportunities.
The United Nations adopted a resolution to celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child on December 19, 2011, and since 2012, this day has been celebrated regularly every year. The United Nations says that at least 10 million girls will be married before puberty due to corona and other factors including school closures.
Last year, the United Nations said that 31 million girls of primary school age around the world do not go to school and 1 out of every four girls between the ages of 15 and 19, i.e. about 25 percent, are victims of physical violence.
At the time of the Prophet (PBUH) young girls were buried alive as soon as they were born. Inhumane violence against girls had become commonplace. Two days ago today, the Pakistani nation celebrated the Eid Miladun Nabi yet as a society we fail to practice his teachings. It was the Prophet ﷺ who put an end to the cruel tradition of burying girls alive in Arab society and gave equal rights to females.
Yet even today, in nations such as Pakistan and India, the birth of a boy is still considered better than a girl. The birth of girls is seen as a burden due to dowry while that of a son creates an opportunity for income growth. However, it must be remembered that Islam interprets the birth of daughters as the mercy of Allah and commands that you should not kill your children from fear of poverty, because Allah Taala will take care of their sustenance.
