Investing in Adolescent Girls!!!

The relevance of girls and women to national development cannot be overemphasised. This is why the United Nations Foundation should be commended for inaugurating the International Day of the Girl Child.

As the world marks the International Day of the Girl Child, the importance of investing in girls is becoming an issue to be reckoned with. Yet, the reality is that in many parts of the world today, girls and women are still treated as second-class citizens; girls are almost completely ignored. Girls have no status, no protection and no prospects in many families, communities and nations of the world. Gender-based inequality is very entrenched in many cultures of the world.

The Millennium Development Goals that deal with universal education, ending violence against women, maternal and child health, economic development and combating HIV/AIDS all have a common link to girls. Girls are much more vulnerable in many instances. They are at risk of early and unwanted pregnancies, abortions and the related consequences, early marriage and disadvantaged motherhood. The complications associated with early pregnancy and child-birth are among the leading causes of death for girls aged 15–19 worldwide. Many girls who get pregnant out of wedlock are often forced into early marriage. These child brides are more likely to experience discrimination and violence. They usually have little or no ability to leave abusive partners and secure the social and legal support they need to improve their situation. Marrying too early and too young is a sure way to perpetuate poverty and inequality in a girls’ community. It erodes the honour and dignity embedded in the life of a girl. Early marriage diminishes or outright eliminates a girl’s potential.

Given the above, girls should be empowered to make a change. They should be encouraged to go to school, stay through school and gain some economic independence. While girls with low levels of education are more likely to be married early, those with secondary education are less likely to marry as children, and more likely to send their own children to school. Education is one of the best strategies to protect girls against child marriage and provide them with the opportunity to build a better life for themselves, their families and their communities.

For girls and women, education is a key building block in the process of empowerment. Along with equal economic opportunities and use of productive assets, equal representation in decision-making bodies, and freedom from drudgery, violence and coercion, it is an essential ingredient in achieving gender equality and accomplishment of every hidden potential.

The government at the federal, state and local levels should work towards focusing specifically on girls’ education and economic independence, preventing violence against girls and women, delaying early pregnancy and supporting safe childbirth. Various incentives should be given to encourage the enrolment of more girls in school, prevent early marriage, reduce girl-child labour and promote the reproductive health rights of girls. Girls should be kept safe and not exploited. A lot of investment in facilitating the well-being of the adolescent should be promoted and encouraged. Every hand must be on deck to make room for the girl and allow her to reach her full potential. Girls count in national development and individuals, organisations, philanthropists and the government should encourage every work aimed at promoting the well-being of the girl-child.

 •Funmi Adebayo is the Executive Director of Girls Alive Counselling Initiatives, Ilorin, girlsaliveinitiatives@yahoo.com

Culled From puch Newspaper.