CITIZENS COMPASS–In commemoration of the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child, a Non-governmental organisation, Sustainable Gender Action Initiative, on Friday, demanded an action to protect and empower girls all over the world.
The Executive Director of the Group, Mufuliat Fijabi, Ph.D., made the call in a statement, saying this could be achieved by ensuring that the vision of the Girl child is not disrupted.
She said, “Girls’ vision for the future is our collective vision.”
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed on the 11th of October.
This 2024 edition is themed, “Girl’s Vision for the Future”
According to her, “The International Day of the Girl Child observed on 11 October every year comes in 2024 with another strong call and demand for action to protect and empower girls all over the world by ensuring that their vision for the future is not disrupted. Girls’ vision for the future is our collective vision.
“Girls in the face of multiple and complex challenges have remained resilient and hopeful of a better world. They rely on the strength of change that happens now to remove barriers in their way for hopes for a better world. The girls of today if supported can impact positively well on families and nations of the world through growth and development.
“According to UNICEF (2024), the population of girls in the world is more than 1.1 billion. They are however faced with various challenges including malnutrition, sexual and gender based violence, early and or forced marriage, lack of education and several more. Besides, almost double the number of adolescent girls (one in four) compared to boys are not in any form of education, employment or training. Also, Globally, 75% of new HIV infections among adolescents occur in girls.
“While the challenges girls face continue to increase and vary from one country to another, protection of their vision for the future will gradually ease the challenges and launch them into a future that advances their human dignity. In Nigeria, the collective role of all stakeholders is imperative to halt the challenges girls face. Nigerian girls have the full potential to bring about change and deserve all support to grow their potentials and to attain a future that is not worse than now.
“Sustainable Gender Action Initiative, (SGAI) therefore calls on all stakeholders, and the Federal Government of Nigeria to take immediate action to protect and empower Nigerian girls, through speedy advancement of girls’ education, prevention of girls from all forms of harmful cultural practices, support for girls’ menstrual hygiene and protection from all forms of sexual and gender based violence and discrimination. With the Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development Goals near its milestone year, protecting and advancing the vision of girls for the future is critical.”
The Sustainable Gender Action Initiative, Abuja, is a not for profit, civil society organisation focused on inclusive governance and advocacy against sexual and gender based violence.
