Now is the time to make real the prospects of the Girl child! Now is the time to secure the future of the adolescent female! She plays divergent roles in her life: She runs the home, shapes morality and balances the society. Yet she is continually oppressed, neglected, molested and denied educational opportunities.
As we commemorate the 10th anniversary of the international day of the Girl child, we call on the society to renew its commitment to give the Girl child a feeling of belonging, listen to their voices, groom them for a better tomorrow and shape them for an investment in realizing their mental, physical and will power.
The time is now! We shall no longer sit and watch the promises of the girl child buried in the quick sands of anonymity. We shall no longer smile to Educational bias. We shall no longer turn our faces away when our daughters are stripped of their dignity and pride.
The whirlwind of our patriotic cries will continue to rage against discriminatory walls of the Girl Child until the Girl Child is liberated from the discriminatory shackles of female circumcision, rape, sexual exploitation, child labour, child marriage, domestic servitude, forced criminality and Educational bias.
Yes! We must crush the stereotype that the girl child is but a pleasure toy.
When we secure the future of the Girl child, Economic growth Increases, wages and jobs increases, lives of Children and their mothers are more secured, families are sustained and health is maintained.
TOGETHER WE CAN!
TOGETHER WE WILL!
Happy International Girl Child Day!
Hannatu Dauda Simon
Lawyer & Girl Child/Women Rights Advocate
