Monrovia – Young girls in Liberia are being urged to speak out against all forms of violence, a major theme highlighting this year’s International Day of the Girl Child.
Report by Alline Dunbar, [email protected]
At a ceremony marking this year’s Oct. 11 celebration, Emily Frank, head of programs at Medica-Liberia-a women’s rights group, declared that over time, women and girls continue to be victims of all forms of violence.
Said Frank: “Up to present different forms of violence still persist in our nation. So, gathering here to celebrate this day is not a mistake because occasions like these are used to voice out the inequality that women and girls experience.”
The Medica-Liberia executive admonished young girls not to shy away from speaking out against any forms of violence perpetrated against. “Do not remain silent, because if you remain silent you will not be rendered help from anyone,” she averred. “So, if you experience violence it’s only fair to report the case so that in collaboration with the government and partners, we are able to support so that you regain your rights,” said Frank.
In Liberia, this year’s celebration was observed with a colorful parade as young female students took assembled on the grounds of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection on the Capitol by-pass.
Ms. Winifred Deline, Coordinator of the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), urged young girls to voice out the ills against them. “Girls and women have suffered for such a long time, so as you celebrate this day you should be able to create awareness and send the message across by voicing out the inequalities done to you, especially you girls that are in school,” she stressed.
She added that girls all over the world experience similar issues that girls in Liberia endure. So, girls do not sit down but do something that will break the barriers,” she said.
The day of the girl child is celebrated internationally under the global theme: “Girl Force: Unscripted and Unstoppable.” and the National theme: “Girl Force: Breaking Boundaries and Barriers.”
Mr. Samuel Mawunganidze, Deputy Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Samuel Mawunganidze stressed that in order for girls to break boundaries, they have to equip their minds. “Breaking the boundaries nowadays is by using our heads and minds. We no longer need hammers or our muscles to break the barriers,” he stressed.
Mr. Mawunganidze then urged girls to use their brains wisely because the brain is the greatest muscle in the human body. “The brain is the sharpest point of the whole body, so therefore you need to learn how to manage it. Do not focus on the outside but rather on the inside of you,” he averred.
The UNICEF official however cautioned the participants to get rid of thoughts that will allow them to compare their lives with others. “Never ever compare yourself with others; you are unique and a unique person cannot be compared with others,” he cautioned.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Gender, the Acting Minister of Gender, Hassan Kanneh encouraged the girls to focus on their potential for the greater good. “Today ,you are young and girls, tomorrow you will be mothers and future leaders, serving as an example to your children.”
He encouraged the girls to step into greatness by emulating good virtues that will drive them to their goals.
The United Nation General Assembly adopted resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 of each year to be celebrated as the International Day of the Girl Child and since 2012, the day has been observed worldwide. Prominent among the reasons for the establishment of the day is to promote girls’ human rights, highlight gender inequalities that remain between girls and boys and address the various forms of discrimination and abuse suffered by girls around the world.