The International Day of the Girl is observed on October 11, 2021. Learn more and check back on the day as the IRC reveals the most challenging places to grow up a girl.

This position paper outlines why and how the Generation Equality Action Coalition on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) could and should include crisis-affected populations in its work plan, that is to be presented at the Mexico Conference.

As of June 2019, an estimated 76,000 refugees including over 3,800 unaccompanied children, live in Greece, more than 15,500 of these on the Greek islands, often in crowded, substandard conditions. Over 75% of the newly arrived are from Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and Palestine and more than half are women and children. IRC Hellas responds to the needs of the most vulnerable with a holistic approach that spans from reception to integration; on the islands and on the mainland.

On Day of the Girl, the IRC has identified the most challenging places to grow up a girl.

As of June 2019, an estimated 76,000 refugees including over 3,800 unaccompanied children, live in Greece, more than 15,500 of these on the Greek islands, often in crowded, substandard conditions. Over 75% of the newly arrived are from Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and Palestine and more than half are women and children. IRC Hellas responds to the needs of the most vulnerable with a holistic approach that spans from reception to integration; on the islands and on the mainland.

Like any teenager, 14-year-old Marah* has spent a lot of time grappling with that question. She’s sitting with a group of other girls inside a women and girls' centre in Lebanon’s Bekka Valley, listening intently to a discussion about building trusting relationships with parents. She’s here because she wants to learn how to better communicate with her father about something very important to her: She wants to go back to school.

Since 2012, the International Rescue Committee has been providing healthcare and nutrition services to the nomadic population across the region. This includes supporting small children and pregnant women threatened by malnutrition; a vital service as over 10% of children in the region suffer from malnutrition. As fixed settlements are few and far between, the IRC provides its services through mobile clinics - all free of charge.

Meet a doctor, a refugee herself, who works with the IRC along the Thailand-Myanmar border providing essential care for 150,000 patients a year.