Commissioner for Protection of Equality Brankica Jankovic congratulates 11 October, International Day of Girl Child, which is marked with aim to emphasize the right of girls to equality.

Commissioner stressed that gender role stereotypes affect both girls and boys during their childhood, from their appearance or choice of sport to preferred high school, which reflects in modeling of their personality and eventually the quality of life in adulthood. Position of girls from vulnerable social groups is particularly sensitive, because they are more likely to leave the school early, but also to marry as juveniles or be exposed to gender based violence.

Emphasizing that all children have the right to equal chances, Commissioner says that the education from the early age is extremely important for overcoming the gender roles prejudices and that girls and boys have the opportunity to achieve their potentials through appropriate schooling. Girls must have equal opportunities to be raised, educated and professionally orientated in the same extent as boys. We should continuously teach children about the harmfulness of discrimination and every type of inequality, as well as consequences of such behavior, because there will be not progress for a society without true equality, Commissioner Jankovic concludes.