The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Pam Parsons, Minister Responsible for the Office of Women and Gender Equality:

Speaker, on behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, I would like to recognize today as the 10th commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child.

This day brings attention and awareness to the challenges facing girls around the world. It is also a day to highlight the importance of empowering girls, and the actions being taken to achieve gender equality.

Speaker, our government has a number of ongoing initiatives to support girls. We have made free period products available in all K-12 schools; we have visited schools to showcase the value of non-traditional career paths to students approaching graduation; and next week in this very House of Assembly, 40 young women and gender-diverse people will participate in the Future of the Vote event to help inspire political participation for our next generation of leaders.

Speaker, the girls of today are the change makers of tomorrow. Our government will continue to work to ensure that we are creating a province where girls have the choice and opportunity to be whatever it is that they want to be.

I ask all Honourable members to join me in recognizing October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child.

Thank you.