The U.S. Department of State’s “DipNote” blog features several posts about the International Day of the Girl Child, recognized on October 11, and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry released remarks to honor the day.

DipNote: Celebrating the International Day of the Girl: Why Adolescent Girls are a Smart Investment
Catherine Russell, ambassasdor-at-large for global women’s issues, writes, “…Empowering adolescent girls — specifically by freeing them from violence and ensuring them an education — is key to building the future we all want…” (10/10).

DipNote: Let’s Confront, Not Ignore
Daniela Ligiero, senior gender adviser in the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, states, “…Every girl should be able to live her life free of gender-based violence. It is just that simple. Thankfully, the world is beginning to shine a light not only on the problem, but also on solutions. We have a long way to go, but if we confront rather than ignore the issue, we can build a brighter future for millions of girls” (10/11).

DipNote: The Marathon To Close the Gender Gap
Dorothy Shea, deputy principal officer at the Consulate General of the United States in Jerusalem, writes, “…Empowering women throughout the world has been a long-term goal of Secretary Kerry, as it was for former Secretary Clinton. Closing the gender gap will take time, but we must steadfastly move towards a more inclusive society if we want peace and prosperity…” (10/11).

U.S. Department of State: International Day of the Girl, October 11
“…International Day of the Girl reminds us of the need to recommit to investing in the world’s 850 million girls so that they can use their talents to contribute to their communities and countries. … By working together as a community of nations, we can build a world in which girls are not treated as property, chattel, or spoils of war, but rather as individuals with their own voice, talents, and freedom to realize their potential and contribute to our collective humanity…” (Kerry, 10/10).