SDG 5: Gender Equality | SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Institutions: Ministry of Women and Child Development | Ministry of Education
Ahead of International Day of the Girl 2025 (11 October), UN Women issued a statement titled “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis.” It calls for governments and global partners to move beyond protection-centric frameworks and recognise adolescent girls as active leaders in crisis response and recovery. The statement highlights how girls in conflict, climate-affected, and displacement contexts are organising relief efforts, sustaining education, and driving social innovation within their communities.
Girls aged 15–19 in humanitarian settings remain disproportionately affected by school drop-outs, early marriage, and gender-based violence. The statement urges investment in education, safety, digital inclusion, and leadership platforms so girls can act as decision-makers, not dependents, in shaping their futures.
For India, the message reinforces the need for gender-transformative programming within the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Education, and National Disaster Management Authority. Embedding leadership training, mentorship, and crisis-response opportunities for adolescent girls, particularly in climate-vulnerable and conflict-affected districts, aligns with the National Policy for Women 2016 and strengthens the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao framework.
What is the International Day of the Girl? → Observed every year on 11 October, it draws global attention to the rights and potential of girls worldwide. The 2025 theme spotlights girls’ leadership and resilience across crises - a reminder that empowerment, not charity, defines equality.
What is the National Policy for Women (2016)? →The National Policy for Women (NPW) 2016 - Draft was an updated framework proposed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) to replace the earlier National Policy for the Empowerment of Women (2001). Although it has not yet been officially notified, the 2016 draft remains a key reference policy shaping subsequent schemes and consultations. It aimed to position women as equal agents of growth, governance, and sustainability, not just recipients of protection or benefits.
Critically, the policy recognised the changing realities of women’s lives such as urbanisation, digitalisation, migration, and climate pressures, and sought to mainstream gender across national planning. Its principles underpin current frameworks such as Mission Shakti, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and the Gender Budget Statement, influencing how ministries design programmes on safety, entrepreneurship, and representation.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can India’s education and disaster-management systems evolve from protecting girls in emergencies to equipping them as equal partners in crisis leadership?
Follow the full statement here: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/statement/2025/10/statement-the-girl-i-am-the-change-i-lead-girls-on-the-frontlines-of-crisis