The Gender and Communications Manager for SWIDA-Gh, Miss Khadijah Abdul Samed has called on stakeholders in girl child empowerment and education, to work together with individuals in communities to end the menace of sexual violence against girls.
Miss Khadijah made this call during a series of activities SWIDA-Gh
implemented to celebrate this year’s International Day of the Girl Child.
11
th October is set aside to celebrate the International Day of
the Girl Child, with this year’s global theme being “Invest in Girls’ Rights:
Our Leadership, Our Well-being”.
The Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-Gh), as a champion for women and girls’ rights embarked on series of activities to commemorate the day, including radio discussions involving girls as the panelists, as well as a debate in the Bulpiela A/G Junior High School.
Groups of girls from the Bulpiela A/G JHS debated for and against the motion “The Government of Ghana has done enough to invest in girls’ sexual rights”.
The students who wrote for the motion said the government has provided free Senior High School education and so girls who did not have access, are now in school.
On the other hand, the students who spoke against the motion indicated that
the government has not done enough because it has imposed tax on female
hygienic products such as sanitary pads, making it expensive and reducing the level of affordability, increasing the rate of infections and further bringing
down punctuality in school among girls during menstruation.
At the end of the event the students were awarded with exercise books and
other learning materials to help in enhancing teaching and learning.
Speaking after the debate, Miss Khadijah said the debate was meant to test
the basic understanding of the girls on how difficult it is for them to access
services which are meant to empower them and to send a message across to authorities about the challenges girls face, in accessing information on sexual rights.
She also called on stakeholders to work together and raise advocacy towards girl child empowerment, to help the girl realize her dreams and achievement her potential, since girls are vulnerable and can do little to support themselves.
The Regional Education Director for Girls’ Guide and Chairperson for the
event, Mrs. Linda Amoah encouraged the students to study hard to be able to realize their dreams, as she pushed the female students particularly, to pursue their dreams to find their dream jobs even if it is considered male dominated, because everyone, whether male or female, can do anything they put their minds to.
Climaxing the activities on the 2023 IDGC by SWIDA-Gh, radio discussions
were conducted Tamale-based GBC Radio Savannah, involving SWIDA-Gh staff and some students who are “KASA Advocates” focusing on ending sexual violence against girls.
Executive for SWIDA-Gh, Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed speaking on the
contribution of parents towards ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence said parents are not doing much when it comes to issues relating to sex and sex education for the girl child.
She therefore encouraged parents to start giving their girl child sex
education at homes before they end up being influenced with wrong information because they do not have knowledge about sex and its related issues.
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