As the world celebrates the Girl child today with the Theme: GIRLFORCE UNSRCIPTED AND UNSTOPABLE, we at the Society for Women and Youth Affairs (SWAYA) again seek to draw the attention of the general public especially parents or guardians to the challenges and progress the girl child has witnessed overtime.
It is no longer news that the girl child is vulnerable to societal predators and merchant of death in recent times. The number of girls that have seemly lost their lives in questionable circumstances and places raise issues of concern and call for action. While we are yet grappling with the issues of early child marriage, rape, environmental degradation that directly affect the girl child and human trafficking; We are now saddled with senseless killings of girls in a society that is duty bound to guarantee the security of lives and property of individuals and persons resident in that society.
Our school system today hardly seems to factor in the peculiar needs of the Girl child in their design and structures. The Girl child is expected to be favorably disposed to hygienic and proper sanitation in our schools especially in the convenience room. A visit to some of these places in public institutions and private schools surprisingly leaves one in wonder as to the psyche of the users of this facility.
It is worthy to note that some family systems are deliberately balancing gender in the home front. While this is commendable and applaudable, gaps still exist. Instances still prevail where the Boy child is preferred in comparism to the Girl Child. The Boy Child is spoken of in better light as compared to the Girl Child. This portend great danger especially to the Girl Child as it depletes her self-esteem.
As an agent of change, the Society for Women and Youth Affairs sees in the Girl Child individuals who have risen above gender inequality through confidence building skills and working up their capacities to solve problems locally, and contribute to the growth of the nation. We see in our Girls, advocates for peaceful co-existence, sustainable environment and democracy. We see Girls who will take up the challenge of providing the right leadership; from the home, the nation and the world at large.
We therefore call on government agencies, private sector, faith-based organizations, civil society organizations, political leaders and the families to take actions that will address challenges facing the Girl Child in our society. Together we can get it right.
We reaffirm our commitment as an organization to keep bringing to the front burner issues affecting and impeding the girl child from maximizing their potentials and living fulfilled lives.
Stella Amanie
Executive Director