Today is International Day of the Girl Child. The day aims at highlighting and addressing the needs and challenges girls face while promoting girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.
The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has called on all to uphold the rights, voices, and influence of girls in families, communities and nations.
Mr Guterres said, “girls can be powerful agents of change, and nothing should keep them away from participating fully in all areas of life”.
Since 2012, October 11, has been marked as International Day of the Girl Child.
During the 90s, a lot of noise was made about girl child education. In reference to the popular song on television and Radio sets titled, “Send your girl child to school” girls have proven to represent solution to sustainable development for their families and society in general.
The girl child is as priceless as the boy child. UNICEF has made several attempts to promote girl-child education, particularly in developing countries.
Research has shown that there is a certain bias against the girl child having a voice. This has been attributed to socio-economic and cultural factors.
Ghana in its quest to bring to bear the importance of girl child education initiated a number of programmes to encourage parents and guardians to educate their girl child.
Notwithstanding efforts by state institutions and child rights organisations to champion the course of the girl child, there are still barriers to girl child education.
As we observe the day, let’s bear at heart that empowering the girl child is a shared responsibility.
Let’s ensure that the Girl child is educated to help reduce poverty and other socio-economic and cultural factors, that hinders her from realizing her dreams.
