On 11 October, we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child – a day that reminds us of girls’ rights, the challenges they face around the world, and the need to strengthen their agency, autonomy, and ability to shape their own futures. We also decided to mark the occasion by organising WenDo workshops on assertiveness and self-defence for teenage girls.
Why Do We Celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child?
The International Day of the Girl Child was established by the United Nations General Assembly on 19 December 2011 and was first observed on 11 October 2012. Its purpose is to draw attention to girls’ rights, the inequalities and barriers they face, and the need to ensure their access to education, protection from violence, equal opportunities, and the ability to participate fully in social life.
It is also an opportunity to remember that girls have the right to grow up in a safe environment, express their opinions, make decisions about their lives, and develop without restrictive stereotypes.
The International Day of the Girl Child is more than just a celebration. It is also an invitation to take concrete action to empower girls and help them build independence, self-confidence, and a sense of control over their own lives.
WenDo – Assertiveness, Self-Defence, and Sisterhood
To mark the occasion, we organised WenDo workshops on assertiveness and self-defence for teenage girls. We wanted to create a space where girls could not only acquire new skills, but also get to know themselves better, discover their own strengths, and experience the power of mutual support.
During the workshops, we explored what assertiveness means and how it can be used in everyday life. We talked about the right to make our own decisions, recognise our needs, express our opinions, and say “no”. We discussed setting boundaries, responding when they are crossed, and finding the courage not to give in to other people’s expectations at the expense of our own comfort and safety.
Assertiveness is not selfishness. It means recognising that our needs, feelings, and boundaries are just as important as those of other people. It is also the ability to communicate them clearly and firmly.
An important part of the workshops involved exercises related to personal safety and physical self-defence. We wanted to equip the teenagers with practical tools that could help them respond to difficult situations – at school, at a bus stop, on public transport, or in other everyday settings.
Discovering Our Own Potential and Standing Up for Ourselves
One of the most important parts of the meeting was hearing directly from the participants. The girls emphasised that the workshops had helped them see themselves and their abilities from a new perspective. They had opened their minds to the possibility of responding differently, communicating their boundaries more clearly, speaking more confidently about their needs, and finding more effective ways to protect their own safety.
Experiences like these matter. Knowing that you can say “no”, leave an uncomfortable situation, ask for help, respond when someone crosses your boundaries, or use the self-defence techniques you have learned can strengthen your sense of agency and self-confidence.
The point is not to shift responsibility for safety onto girls. Responsibility for preventing violence rests with society as a whole. The aim is to ensure that teenagers know their rights, have access to knowledge and practical tools, and understand that they deserve respect and support.
Sisterhood – Strength We Build Together
The workshops were also an opportunity to build sisterhood: to create a space where girls could talk about their experiences without fear of being judged, listen to one another, and discover the value of mutual support.
Sisterhood is the belief that we do not have to compete with one another. We can support each other, amplify one another’s voices, and speak up when someone is being harmed. We can remind one another that we have the right to make our own decisions, enjoy safe relationships, and live on our own terms.
We want every girl to know that she has the right to her own voice, her own boundaries, and her own strength. That she can stand up for herself. And that she does not have to do it alone.
We therefore celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child not only on 11 October. We celebrate it every time we create a space where girls can grow, regain their self-confidence, build relationships based on respect, and shape their futures with courage.
Information about the International Day of the Girl Child: United Nations – International Day of the Girl Child.
