Tomorrow is International Day of the Girl Child. It is a day set aside by the global community to celebrate the power of girls and highlight the barriers and challenges that limit them from attaining full potential. The theme for 2025 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD is ‘The girl I am, the change I lead“. The day recognises and highlights the unique position of girls and what they stand for in every society. It is equally an opportunity to empower girls and give them stronger voice to share the issues they experience in various parts of world and attract the needed attention to their plight.
The girl child has the potential and endowment that represent continuity from one generation to another and hope for better future prospects that can transform families, communities, States, countries and the world at large. Unfortunately, the girl child in spite of her boundless potential, has continued to face socio-economic and cultural barriers that sometimes deny her opportunities to actualize her dreams in life.
Millions of girls engaged as domestic servants, are always over burdened and most of them, are frequently sexually harassed, abused and exploited.
In some communities, early marriage has remained a heavy burden to the future of the girl child because most of the girls are forced into marriage when they are not mentally and emotionally mature to shoulder family responsibilities which often hold them hostage in circles of poverty and deny them opportunity for quality education.
According to available statistics, over fifty seven percent of girls across the globe are still victims of female genital mutilation which has no health benefits and can cause long-term health problems
Again, over the years, girls have remained targets of human trafficking, organ harvesting and forced prostitution.
Similarly, many girls have continued to be raped at home by adult family members, including biological fathers, at school by teachers and lecturers and work places by employers and superiors.
Unfortunately, poor parental upbringing, declining right role models, technological development and globalization are exposing girls to dangerous lifestyle that is seriously eroding moral and ethical values.
To protect and empower the girl child, there should be collective and concerted efforts towards promoting her fundamental human rights to health, education, equality and protecting her from harm, all forms of abuse and discriminatory practices to encourage her to pursue her dreams without fear and undue pressure.
These will enhance gender equality and social justice that world accelerate the drive towards social change and equal opportunities that will shape a sustainable future where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.
Providing quality education to the girl child will equip her with the necessary knowledge and skills to overcome poverty, become self reliant and contribute towards economic growth and social development as well as make informed decisions of her life and future.
It is important to stress that if given the right opportunity and empowerment, the girl child can develop her talent and skills to distinguish herself in all spheres of life and compete favourably with her boy counterpart.
