Declare Day of the Girl

October 11, 2019, as Day of the Girl in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official days that are set aside to increase awareness of issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 11, 2019, as Day of the Girl in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Day of the Girl; and WHEREAS, Day of the Girl-US is an 100% youth-led movement fighting for gender justice and youth rights, and believes truly effective social change cannot come without girls' leadership; and WHEREAS, Girls are the experts on issues which affect girls, and the solutions to these issues must come from girls; their voices need to be centralized and elevated in social justice conversations; and WHEREAS, Girls from marginalized communities must be included in conversations about social justice issues involving those communities; and WHEREAS, Girls' issues are intersectional, and we must intentionally embrace people who are different from ourselves in our social change work; and WHEREAS, In early 2011, members of School Girls Unite, an organization of students and young female leaders which supported U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, specifically gender equality, universal basic education, child marriage prevention, and other human rights issues, heard other countries around the world were beginning to organize an internationally recognized Day of the Girl; shortly thereafter, this group began to organize a national day of action focused on girls' rights; and WHEREAS, In December of 2011, the United Nations declared October 11th as the International Day of the Girl Child, in order to help galvanize worldwide enthusiasm for goals to better girls' lives, providing an opportunity for them to show leadership and reach their full potential; and WHEREAS, The United States portion of this global movement began the Proclamation Project, where they asked girls across the country to prepare Day of the Girl proclamations and to encourage their local government officials to pass them; and WHEREAS, Each year, this 100% youth-led Action Team of girls and young women from all across the country spend numerous hours preparing for a its Day of the Girl observance; and WHEREAS, Day of the Girl supports more opportunities for girls and increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide based upon their gender; this inequality includes areas such as access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and protection from discrimination, violence against women and forced child marriage; and WHEREAS, The celebration of the day reflects the successful emergence of girls and young women as a distinct cohort in development policy, programming, campaigning and research; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 11, 2019, as Day of the Girl in the State of New York Day in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.