International Day of the Girl highlights girls’ rights in conflict zones, says Plan Finland’s Ossi Heinänen

According to Ossi Heinänen, the Secretary General of Plan Finland, crises and conflicts severely impact girls’ lives and erode their rights. This year’s theme for International Day of the Girl, celebrated on October 11, is “Girls in Conflict.” Heinänen highlighted that girls in conflict zones face increasing violence and exploitation, which adversely affects their access to education.

The International Day of the Girl, initiated by the child rights organization Plan International, has been recognized on the UN calendar since 2012 and is celebrated globally. The day aims to shed light on the challenges and needs girls face worldwide and to promote the realization of girls’ rights. In Finland, the topic this year focuses on girls in conflict situations.

Plan Finland awarded its first-ever recognition for efforts toward improving girls’ status to the “Mimmit koodaa” (Girls Code) program, which promotes gender equality in the IT sector. The initiative was founded by Milja Köpsi.

Highlighting global issues, Tahira Abuzaid, a 13-year-old from Oulu, discusses the importance of speaking out against violence and sexual harassment faced by girls. As both a Finnish and Palestinian girl, she believes that social media and protests can effectively drive change.

Tahira expresses that everyone should be free to dress as they wish, noting her desire to wear long clothes and scarves without feeling different. She enjoys various forms of art and boxing and dreams of becoming an architecture teacher, proud to identify as a girl.

Her mother, Dania Al-Zaghaleel, originally from Jordan, emphasizes the importance of protecting girls and fostering awareness of diverse cultures. She believes that understanding other cultures can uncover valuable life lessons and that discussing global issues, like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is essential for raising awareness.