Declaration of the European Parliament of 15 December 2011 in support of an International Day of the Girl
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Rule 123 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. recalling the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, which was established in 1911 to acknowledge and commemorate the social, political and economic achievements of women,
B. recallingthe United Nations decision, in 1975, to choose 8 March as International Women's Day, the day on which to celebrate women's contributions across the world,
C. recognising that across the world, research has shown that girls are more likely to suffer from malnutrition, be subject to violence or intimidation; be trafficked, sold or coerced into the sex trade; be forced into an early marriage; become infected with HIV or suffer life-threatening conditions from a pregnancy which was not of their choosing,
1. Supports the proposal that will be made by Canada at this year's General Assembly for a UN Resolution that would proclaim 22 September as an International Day of the Girl;
2. Calls on the European Union to support the UN Resolution for an International Day of the Girl;
3. Instructs its President to forward this declaration, together with the names of the signatories(1), to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to the Commission, to the Council and to the Parliaments of the Member States.