Letter to the Romanian girls
Message from Anna Riatti, UNICEF Representative in Romania, on the occasion of the International Day of the Girl.
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Dear Romanian girls,
Today UNICEF celebrates the International Day of the Girl, a special day that serves as a reminder of your unique potential, your daring dreams, and the power you hold to change the world.
You are at the heart of our vision for a better world! I want you to know that your voices matter, and your dreams are achievable. I envision a world where girls like you can shape government policies, influence business practices, and drive research and innovations. Your ideas, creativity, and perspectives can and will bring positive change in our society, and UNICEF is here to support you every step of the way.
This year’s International Day of the Girl comes at a crucial time when we are facing many challenges hindering the rights and progress of girls. While progress is being made in gender equality, girls still face stark challenges in a wide range of areas including health, nutrition, education and skills, gender-based violence and child marriage, and equal opportunities. Poverty, conflict, and climate change are exacerbating the experience of gender inequality and other forms of marginalization and violence.
That’s why it’s imperative to increase funding in key areas including girls' health, education, violence prevention, and economic empowerment initiatives. Such investments are essential for enabling girls to realize their rights and achieve their dreams. This will also translate into more developed and equitable communities.
Despite the challenges, you are not alone! Together with governmental and civil society partners, UNICEF is committed to work day and night to make sure your needs are met, your voices heard and that and that every girl in Romania has the opportunity to reach her full potential.
On this special day, I want to remember how lucky I was as an adolescent to have access to quality education, including health education, to have caring parents who mentored me to believe in what I really cared for, to never give up and to live in a community that had all the services I needed to become an adult.
In all the countries where I’ve worked, from Italy to Iran, from Sudan to Bosnia and Herzegovina, from Sri Lanka to Romania now, this has often not been the case for all girls I have met, yet they have constantly impressed me with their determination, resilience and the drive to engage and improve their communities.
Dear Girls, remember that you are the present and the future of Romania. Your actions today will shape the world tomorrow. Believe in yourselves, dream big, support one another, and never be afraid to ask for support when needed. Together, we can break barriers, challenge norms, and create a world where every girl can fulfill her potential.
Happy International Day of the Girl!
Warmest regards,
Anna Riatti, UNICEF Representative for Romania
