By Bridget Nsimenta
The 11th of October every year enlightens us about the restoration of a girl child and her rights. I appreciate the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action that took into consideration the presence of a girl child and appreciated her daily contribution to the society, recognizing her rights and the different and unique challenges girls face worldwide.
The international girl child day, is a very special day when we promote a girl child’s rights, eliminate the economic exploitation of child labor, eradicate violence against girls and protect their rights and lives.
It is my responsibility, and your responsibility too, to break the silence and fight for the well-being of a girl child.
This year’s theme “My voice, Our equal future” suggests that let’s seize the opportunity to reimagine a better world inspired by adolescent girls. These are girls with ambitions, goals of their tomorrow. They see and know the change they want, in addition to the innovative solutions small and big to their hardships across the globe. They are change makers.
Create awareness to every girl to know and fight for her rights, rescue her from discrimination and all other forms of violence to save the present and future. My voice, your voice, our voice can create an equal future despite the difference in sex.
Women and girls are the mothers and future of our nation and therefore their words of wisdom and decisions should be respected since they make half of the world’s population and hence half itspotential to develop.
Globally, strong women have worked hard to ensure sustainable development for years since the feminists fought tirelessly for the empowerment of women hence gender equality. This has also beensupplemented by the influential political leaders of today that value and support women in development.
Empowering women has increased the production and economic growth of various countries since they are the heads of some companies today and other income generating projects.
Investing in girl children especially the adolescents and empowering them creates a strong foundation for a better tomorrow because they are the mothers, citizens, leaders and the entrepreneurs of the next generation.
The international girl child day 2020 will focus on the demands of the adolescent girls so that they can live a life free from gender-based violence, harmful practices, and HIV/AIDS and to also lead as a generation of activists accelerating social change.
In order to achieve the set goals, parental guidance and the community’s assistance should be emphasized, successful stories shared and measures taken to erase all the hindrances in between hard work and success.
Fight against teenage pregnancy, and early marriage which have increased in this corona crisis to see your goals achieved. Have integrity and keep strong amidst hardships.
Proverbs 24:10 says ‘if you are weak in a crisis, you are weak indeed’.
Therefore, prove your capability and show that you can make it until the end of this COVID-19 era. For God and my country
The writer is the Lady Fresher at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
