[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 200 (Wednesday, October 16, 2013)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 62315-62316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24503]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 200 / Wednesday, October 16, 2013 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 62315]]


                Proclamation 9039 of October 10, 2013

                
International Day of the Girl, 2013

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                From Asia to Europe, from Africa to the Americas, 
                nations that have embraced the ideals of equality and 
                inclusion have emerged more stable, peaceful, and 
                prosperous. When countries empower girls to pursue 
                their dreams, they not only fulfill a basic moral 
                obligation, they also realize more fully their social 
                and economic potential. Over the past few decades, the 
                global community has made great progress in increasing 
                opportunity and equality for women and girls, but far 
                too many girls face futures limited by violence, social 
                norms, educational barriers, and even national law. On 
                International Day of the Girl, we stand firm in the 
                belief that all men and women are created equal, and we 
                advance the vision of a world where girls and boys look 
                to the future with the same sense of promise and 
                possibility.

                My Administration is committed to expanding opportunity 
                for girls on the world stage. We are promoting gender 
                equality in education, cracking down on human 
                trafficking, and working to empower women and girls to 
                contribute in the workplace and in public life. 
                Building on my challenge to the United Nations in 
                September 2011, a broad coalition of countries and 
                organizations has joined the United States in forming 
                the Equal Futures Partnership, an international effort 
                to break down barriers to the economic and political 
                empowerment of women and girls. We are working to break 
                the cycle of poverty by educating and empowering girls, 
                including through a new global outreach and engagement 
                campaign. We are funding programs to encourage girls 
                around the world to pursue careers in science and 
                technology. And because child marriage is a threat to 
                fundamental human rights, my Administration has 
                strengthened reporting and launched several initiatives 
                to prevent child marriage.

                At home, we are leading by example. We are encouraging 
                girls to pursue degrees and careers in science, 
                technology, engineering, and mathematics--fields that 
                will allow them to drive innovation while working in 
                the high-paying jobs of the future. We are funding 
                evidence-based strategies to reduce teen pregnancy in 
                the United States, and we are also motivating girls to 
                become leaders--from hosting the first-ever White House 
                conference on girls' leadership and civic engagement to 
                sponsoring an app challenge to spur new ways to inspire 
                girls to become leaders in government.

                As we observe this day, there is a girl in an unknown 
                country who will grow to spark the next great 
                scientific revolution, but only if she gets a shot at a 
                higher education. Across the globe there are girls who 
                will one day lead nations, if only we afford them the 
                chance to choose their own destinies. And on every 
                continent, there are girls who will go on to change the 
                world in ways we can only imagine, if only we allow 
                them the freedom to dream.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim October 11, 2013, as 
                International Day of the Girl. I call upon all 
                Americans to observe this day with programs, 
                ceremonies, and activities that advance equality and 
                opportunity for girls everywhere.

[[Page 62316]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
                eighth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2013-24503
Filed 10-15-13; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F4