Causes matter to Bermudian Carolyn Thomas Ray.

She couldn’t get away from world issues during the 15 years she lived in London.

The 42-year-old took them to heart. When she was expecting, she and her husband Chris combed a list of suffragettes, eventually naming their daughter after Evelina Haverfield.

When they moved to Bermuda last year, they were determined to raise residents’ consciousness with an event that would highlight the UN’s International Day of the Girl.

“Gender-based violence, the over-sexualisation of younger girls, bullying and cultural bias regarding a female’s access to equal achievement are all examples of where we can improve,” said Mrs Ray, an underwriter and one of the island’s human rights commissioners.

“These are all issues that are across the globe, but what I found here is that people were not particularly interested in global issues as much as they are in London.

“So talking about Syria, talking about the long-term effects of girls and women as they flee Syria, in London those things are much more topical.”

Robotics, coding and mechanics will be featured at Sunday’s event. Representatives from the Sea Cadets and the Bermuda Power Boat Association are also hoping to show girls how appealing their programmes are.

“We will be encouraging girls to tinker,” Mrs Ray said.

“It would be great for men to be involved and bring their daughters, goddaughters and nieces, because it’s important for men to be aware of some of the challenges that face their daughters as they grow up and to also become aware of some of the language they might use.

“Things like: You throw like a girl. Using that phrase immediately tells your daughter that she’s doing something badly because she is a girl.”

Studies show girls frequently drop out of sports at the age of 12, when they become more body-conscious, Mrs Ray said.

“I suppose having a daughter focuses one’s mind on the challenges that face girls,” she added.

“It’s only at that point, when you start shopping for toys and clothing, that you realise that the majority of things for girls are pink with glitter.

“If you go to a Toys R Us and you want to get a tool set, it is in the boys’ section. The shops delineate on the basis of gender.

“It was only when we had our own daughter that it became much more focused in our minds, the insidious sexism and gender bias against girls being able to do whatever they might want to do.”

The goal of the event is to educate and raise awareness in Bermuda of human rights’ abuses of girls globally, and to expose girls to STEM [subjects] and traditionally boy-dominated sports such as football, cricket, rugby and, last year’s favourite, archery.

“It is much easier to have an impact on community issues in a small community than it is in London,” Mrs Ray said.

• International Day of the Girl, is on Sunday, 2pm-5pm, at the National Sports Centre. The free event is for girls only. For more information, visit Facebook: International Day of the Girl — Bermuda