By Bill W. Cooper
The government, through the Ministry Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), over the weekend, celebrated the 13th International Day of the Girl Child aimed at raising awareness about the challenges faced by girls and women in Liberia.
The global theme for this year’s celebration is: “Girls Vision for The Future,” while the local theme is: “Empowering Every Girl in Liberia for a Better Future,” thus resonating deeply with the audience.
The day began with a vibrant parade from the ELWA Junction in Paynesville, where hundreds of schoolgirls, activists, and government officials marched to the sounds of Liberian music, marching bands and chants advocating for girls’ rights.
The procession however, ended at the SKD Sports Complex Gymnasium, where a formal program was held, featuring speeches from key government officials, representatives from international organizations, and young girls among others.
The United Nations General Assembly On December 19, 2011, adopted resolution 66/170 to declare October 1 1 of each year as the International Day of the Girl Child and since October 11, 2012, the day has been observed Worldwide.
However, prominent among reasons for the establishment of this day, is to promote girls’ human rights, highlights gender inequalities that exist between girls and boys and address issues confronting girls around the world (which include all forms of discrimination and abuse suffered by girls).
Serving as the keynote speaker for this year’s event, FOrumCiv-Liberia Gender Advocacy and Communications Coordinator, Faith Courage Smith, emphasized the importance of empowering girls and women as a means to foster national development.
She declared, “Today, as we stand together to reaffirm our commitment to ending discrimination against girls and women in all its forms, we must ensure that every girl in Liberia has access to quality education, healthcare, and opportunities to thrive.”
Smith also highlighted the alarming statistics surrounding gender-based violence in the country, noting that one in three women has experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.
She warned, “And this is unacceptable. Moving forward, we must all work collectively to change societal attitudes that perpetuate discrimination and violence against women and girls in Liberia.”
Deputy Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Atty. Cornelia Kruah-Togba, lauded the MGCSP and partners for hosting of the event. She pledged the government of President Joseph Boakai’s fullest support towards empowering Liberian girls.
She also emphasized the role of education in transforming the lives of girls, asserting, “When we invest in girls’ education, we invest in the future of our nation, ensuring the world at large is safe.”
Deputy Minister Kruah-Togba, added, “We must work together to create an environment where girls can learn, grow, and thrive without fear of discrimination or violence and ensure that every girl has the opportunity to reach her full potential.”
Meanwhile, the event also saw the participation of international organizations, including UNICEF, ActionAid, Medical Liberia, Ministry of Education, among others, which have been instrumental in supporting gender initiatives in Liberia.
