Recognising rights of girls vital for global growth

Women form more than half of the world’s population, but they bear the brunt of all manner of discrimination, leading to their inability to function fully and effectively in society.

The Daily Graphic notes that nearly 25 years after the Fourth World Conference on Women in China, girls all over the world are still treated less favourably in all aspects than boys.

It is to forestall discrimination against girls that the International Day of the Girl was instituted in 2012 to recognise the rights of girls and the unique challenges they face all over the world. The global event is marked on October 11, each year.

This year’s commemoration yesterday was on the theme: “Empowering girls for a brighter tomorrow”.

In our view, this is apt, in that it comes to remind the world that more attention has to be paid to girls to ensure a brighter future and better livelihood that will impact positively on the socio-economic condition of the world.

As we ponder over the celebration, our trust is that it will shed light on the challenges, biases, dangers and injustices young girls face globally for governments to address them.

Today, girls in many places around the world have no power to determine their sexual and reproductive rights, leading to child marriages and motherhood, something that is highly pathetic. Women are also discriminated against in terms of education, while they suffer gender-based violence, which erodes their self-esteem.

The Daily Graphic thinks that as the world marks the day, there is a lot that can be done, especially in Ghana, to encourage the girl-child to aspire to the highest level possible according to her ability.

Despite the successes Ghana has chalked up in terms of fighting discrimination against girls, there is still a wide gap in opportunities between girls and boys. In governance, from Parliament to other leadership and decision-making platforms, women are woefully under-represented. This makes it imperative that the country act, although it is acknowledged that more girls are attending and completing school, fewer are getting married or becoming mothers, while more are gaining the skills they need for their livelihood.

We also note the importance of ICT in today’s world and the advances made to bridge the gap that exists between girls and boys in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.

It is commendable that around the time the day was being marked, the Ministry of Communications has also launched an ICT programme to develop the skills of girls and young women to bridge the gap in the digital space and demystify the study of STEM by motivating females to pursue careers in those fields.

We at the Daily Graphic acknowledge the many challenges girls must grapple with in their growth path and think that Ghana, through its ministries, departments and agencies, must emulate the example of the Communications Ministry and invest more in girls to empower them economically to live meaningful lives.

In addition to what the government, NGOs and civil society are already doing, we call for deliberate policies to create more opportunities through which girls’ voices can be heard, as well as create safe spaces for girls to have full participation in decision making.

As the rest of the world commemorated International Day of the Girl and thought of tackling issues such as child marriage, education, inequality, and gender-based violence, Ghana must consciously roll out policies that will ensure an end to all aspects of discrimination against the girl.