Hello Everyone,
Today is October 11, 2020 — known as “THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD”. A memorable day that focuses on the need to address the challenges girls face and helps to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights, gender equality, and women’s empowerment which is an integral part of the vision of the Women Against Violence and Exploitation in Society Sierra Leone (WAVES-SL) and other women’s advocacy organizations.
According to the UN Statistics, the world contains 1.1 billion girls under age 18, who are determined to become the “largest generation of female leaders, entrepreneurs and change-makers the world has ever seen.
As we commemorate 25 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995– the global agenda for advancing the rights and empowerment of women and girls everywhere, under this year’s theme, “My Voice, Our Equal Future”, let us take hold of the opportunity to be inspired by what adolescent girls see as the change they want, the solutions- big and small- they are leading and demanding across the globe. Let us give them the space and platform, by amplifying the voices of children, especially the girl-child, to speak up and initiate actions to address issues that affect their well-being in their homes and communities. Let us strengthen School Girls Clubs toward movement building to end FGM and help protect them against violence from all angle.
As adolescent girls worldwide assert their power as change-makers, let this day focus on their demands to live free from gender-based violence, harmful traditional practices like early/ forceful marriage, FGM, Sexual Harassment among others.
It is disheartening to see how our men continue to sexually abuse our girls and this is even made worse during this CoViD-19 pandemic. This is outrageous and impedes the brighter future of our girls. Let the perpetrators of such inhuman and barbaric act be dealt with by the full force of the law.
Let us help our girls learn new skills toward the future they seek to lead as a generation of activists, accelerating social change. Let’s give them justice, education, socio-economic & legal aids.
Let us break the boundaries posed by discriminatory policies against girl-child education, the stereotypes and exclusion, including those directed at children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities.
Whilst WAVES-SL recognizes and appreciates the Government of Sierra Leone for the proactive steps already taken to protect the rights and dignity of the girls by establishing the SGBV ONE-STOP Centers and the Sexual Offences Model Court, let me also remind the government of the 2019 Victory at the ECOWAS which removed the ban on pregnant girls from attending school.
WAVES-SL is aware that when school closed due to CoViD-19, government efforts to realize the court ruling slowed in 2020, but we want to see the government strengthen its actions to ensure the schools accept the girls and have mechanisms in place to welcome them.
As entrepreneurs, innovators and initiators of global movements, girls are creating a world that is relevant for them and future generations. Their voices are worth considering, their plights we should be interested in, by letting girls be girls; and not mothers. By amplifying their voices to speak on issues that affect their well-being- even louder, by strengthening the hands that fight against gender-based violence- to end it. Their voice is our equal future. So, let’s seize the opportunity to be inspired by what adolescent girls see as the change they want, the solutions- we seek and the future we dream of.
As I conclude, let me also quickly but carefully reecho to our girls that the need for them to stay focus on their goals and education is as important as this fight. As young girls, have in you the urge to remain focused and committed to your dreams, ambitions, and work towards them till they’re achieved. Use education and self-discipline to maintain your pride, never allow anything or anyone ruin it, or become a distraction to your future. Never be afraid to report any threat or act of violence against you or your kind. Remember ‘Your voice is our equal future’.
Happy International Day of the Girl Child.
Thank you!
Media Contact:
Communications Officer, WAVES-SL.
Mobile: +232790-11-500/+23234-013-048
Email: wavesrights@gmail.com
Facebook: Waves Sierra Leone.
