By William Loeffler

Published: Tuesday, October 9, 2012, 9:05 p.m.
Updated: Monday, October 29, 2012

Organizers of a party on Thursday hope to call attention to both the power and plight of girls across the globe.

Day of the Girl, scheduled for the Hard Rock Cafe at Station Square, is part of a worldwide celebration of the first-ever International Day of the Girl Child.

The family-friendly bash will feature live music, food, games and a live podcast that will include feeds from similar events in New York, Chicago and Washington.

Last year, the United Nations General Assembly declared Oct. 11 as the official International Day of the Girl Child. The effort behind the resolution was led in the United States by School Girls Unite, an organization of high-school students and young women leaders based in the Washington, D.C., area.

The group wants to focus the spotlight on the discrimination and exploitation suffered by young girls around the world. The group says many aren't given the education of their young male peers, and that thousands are forced to do physical labor or are married off to older men.

The Pittsburgh event is sponsored by the tweener website www.iTwixie, the Girls Coalition of Southwestern Pennsylvania and UGG Boots.

Rebecca Gaynier is founder and CEO of iTwixie, an online clubhouse where tween girls can blog , chat, write poetry and share photos, videos and songs in a safe, adult-supervised environment. Gaynier says they have petitioned state, city and county officials to lend their support.

“School Girls Unite wanted to recognize the importance of empowering girls, promoting gender equality and promoting health education and wellness worldwide,” Gaynier says.

The event, which begins at 6:30 p.m., is free and open to all ages.

Details: www.dayofthegirlsummit.com/pgh

William Loeffler is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at wloeffler@tribweb.com or 412-320-7986.

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