Invest in Girls' Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-Being

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“We know that “girls don't live single-issue lives.” We also know that our best chance of scaling up sustainable programming to support girls’ well-being is building programmes around what already exists, and where girls are already finding support.”- Vanessa Nakate. The International Day of the Girl (IDG) observed annually on 11 October is a global platform to advocate for the full spectrum of girls’ rights. This year has been particularly harsh for girls. In recent times the news has reported a number of abductions, rape and murder of girls some as young as 8 years. The untimely passing of these girls has not only robbed their families of their potential but the society as a whole has been left shaken and broken. From maternal health care and parenting support for adolescent mothers, to digital and life skills training; from comprehensive sexuality education to survivor support services and violence prevention programmes; there is an urgent need for increased attention and resourcing for the key areas that enable girls to realize their rights and achieve their full potential. In almost every country, patriarchy and power dynamics afford boys comparative advantages compared to girls in most domains. These advantages accrue over time. During adolescence, paths diverge considerably. Social and gender norms constrict adolescent girls’ access to public spaces, socialize girls to be docile and obedient (“good girls”), and reinforce perceptions that girls’ appearances, and potential and actual role in care work, is valued more than their studies in school, leadership in business, or voice in policymaking. The time has passed for a global reset in terms of how girls are viewed as well as in terms of global investments in girls education and in those programmes that will empower girls. Statistics from the United Nations speak volumes regarding the specific needs and concerns of girls. Nearly 1 in 5 girls are still not completing lower-secondary and nearly 4 in 10 girls are not completing upper-secondary school today. And in certain regions, the numbers are even more dismal. Around 90 per cent of adolescent girls and young women do not use the internet in low-income countries, while their male peers are twice as likely to be online. Globally, girls aged 5-14 spend 160 million more hours every day on unpaid care and domestic work than boys of the same age. This unequal distribution in unpaid work intensifies in adolescence with serious implications for girls’ well-being. Alarmingly, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 100 million girls were at risk of child marriage in the next decade. And now over the next ten years, up to 10 million more girls worldwide will be at risk of marrying as children because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights. Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years, but also as they mature into women. If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders. An investment in realizing the power of adolescent girls upholds their rights today and promises a more equitable and prosperous future, one in which half of humanity is an equal partner in solving the problems of climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention, and global sustainability. A Call to Action. It ought not to be business as usual in terms of how societies engage with girls. More gender-specific policies, programmes and projects that will target girls are required. Girls must be encouraged to pursue careers in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in order to acquire better paying jobs. The United Nations reports that girls are breaking boundaries and barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion, including those directed at children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities. As entrepreneurs, innovators and initiators of global movements, girls are creating a world that is relevant for them and future generations. The theme for the International Day of the Girl is Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-Being. The paucity of funding available to sponsor girl-centered projects and programmes speak to the extent to which the society views the importance of girls. Undoubtedly, there needs to be a massive review regarding funding for girls programmes; both short and long term investments. The undertaking if done comprehensively will reap substantial benefits for sustainable development. The education system globally must be reformed in order to provide more platforms and opportunities for girls to voice their concerns and promote advocacy surrounding the rights of girls. There is a stark difference in those societies where a premium is placed on the rights of girls as opposed to societies where girls are not viewed as important. Societies need to tackle the view that girls belong in the domestic space. This backward view has led to the erosion of gains made in the areas of gender equality and gender equity. Unfortunately, the world has seen in Afghanistan what happens to the rights of girls when the focus is shifted. Regrettably, Afghanistan is the only country in the world where girls are prohibited from going to secondary school. We must also be mindful that in many schools in western societies girls do not feel safe. Many girls are sexually harassed almost daily. Sadly, for many girls the school space is one of danger and hostility and this is problematic. As the international community observes The International Day of the Girl we must redouble our efforts in ensuring that the rights of girls are cemented under the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). In the words of António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, women and girls can lead us to a fairer future...let us amplify girls’ voices, and recommit to working together to build a world where every girl can lead and thrive. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #InternationalDayoftheGirl

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