The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has called on the global community to move beyond reaffirming commitments and invest boldly in the action needed to respond to girl’s call for change.
In a message to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child, it is obvious that many girls are already championing solutions and change in their communities, hence, the urgent need for increased attention and resourcing for the key areas that enable girls to realize their rights and achieve their full potential.
” This year, at a time when we are seeing a range of movements and actions to curtail girls’ and women’s rights and roll back progress on gender equality, we see particularly harsh impacts on girls. From maternal health care and parenting support for adolescent mothers, to digital and life skills training; from comprehensive sexuality education to survivor support services and violence prevention programmes “. UNICEF
Together with our government and civil society partners, UNICEF envisions a world where girls have space to shape government policy and spending to inform the rules and norms by which businesses should operate, and to direct the priorities for new research and innovations. These examples should not be novelties, but the norm.
In the same vein, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos State Chapter, has joined its voice calling on everyone to come together to nurture the potential of the girl child and take concrete actions that will contribute to a more equitable and just future for all.
The Chairperson of the Association, Dr Adeola Ekineh made the call in a message to this year’s International Day of the Girl Child in Lagos.
According to her, since the theme for this year is “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being”, there is the need to create strategic moments that concentrate and celebrate the voices of girls while urging those in positions of power to enhance their support for girls’ rights.
” We want a world where girls not only have access to education but are encouraged to pursue careers in traditionally male-dominated fields, a world where child marriages and female genital mutilations rob countless girls of their childhood and hinder their ability to lead fulfilled lives are totally eradicated “. Ekineh
She implored female journalists to play proactive roles in amplifying the voices of young girls by shedding light on their achievements and challenges.
” NAWOJ Lagos will continue to work tirelessly towards a society where every girl can thrive without fear of discrimination or limitation “. She said
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