On Monday, on the occasion of International Day Of The Girl Child, Ayushmann Khurana who has been recently appointed as UNICEF's celebrity advocate for their global campaign Ending Violence Against Children (EVAC), said that discrimination against a girl is unacceptable and holds our nation back.
Ayushmann who has always aimed for a constructive change in society with progressive and conservation-starting movies said, “As UNICEF’s Celebrity Advocate towards ending violence against children, I firmly believe that discrimination and violence against girls are unacceptable and holds us back as a developed and caring society. Covid-19 has added to the challenges faced by girls. With limited access to mobiles or the internet, girls have faced restrictions in accessing remote learning and in having their health, nutritional and social needs treated on par with the boys in their families.”
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He further said, “At the same time lockdowns for Covid prevention have increased incidence of gender-based violence. Latest data from National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows that child marriages have increased by as much as 50 percent during the pandemic”.
He later highlighted the significance of the day and said, “Promote girls' empowerment and ensure their human rights. We need to prioritize girls' education, treat their rights on par with those of boys, provide them with skills and livelihood opportunities and engage with boys and men to address patriarchal mindsets.”
The actor further highlighted his goalposts as an EVAC advocate in India. He was quoted saying, “I aim to initiate powerful conversations that help all of us understand the challenges girls continue to live and grow with even today, and how we all can and must play our part in changing this. There are few simple ways in which we can all begin to make a difference.”
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Every year, International Day Of The Girl Child is celebrated on October 11 and this year, UN Women is joining other UN agencies, civil society, and girls around the world to celebrate International Day of the Girl Child under the theme "Digital generation. Our generation”.