Plan International Nigeria Takes Step To Ensure Implementation Of Girls Rights

As part of efforts to ensure gender equality, and social inclusion as well as remove the barriers facing the girl child in the country, stakeholders at a Plan International Nigeria forum to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child have called for the implementation of policies on girls’ rights.

The policies include the National Policy on Gender in Education which aims to ensure equitable access for girls and promotes quality and inclusive education for all, the right to survival and development, and the Right of a child to free compulsory, and universal primary. Act to provide and protect the rights of a Nigerian child; and other related matters.

The Assistant Director, Sport and Health Education, Ministry Of Education,  Njideka Ogbukewho noted that Nigeria already had enough policies to protect the girl child urged for the implementation of such policies to create places for the girl child.

Representing the Country Director,  Plan Internation Nigeria, Charles Usie, the Director of Programme, Quality, and Innovation, Mrs Helen Mfonobong Idiong who said the organization was determined to create a world safe for children to thrive, urged the children to use the experience gained from the meeting to improve their lives better.

”We strive to ensure that we have a world that is safe for children, but most importantly we are looking for a world where girls have their rights, gender equality for girls.”  

She noted that the girl child has been relegated to the bottom, and hidden in most African society, where they are not allowed to make choices or speak up for their rights and privileges.

” This is because for over the years, I’m sure you know, if you don’t know when you go back ask your mum ask your grandmother, that girls have always been at the bottom of society, because of the place we live in we know that we are in Africa it’s a very patriarchal society.” 

Mrs  Idiong promised Plan International’s continuous support to realize a world in which all girls are protected, respected, and empowered.

She urged the children to ensure that what learned in the program would be used judiciously, to better improve themselves and the society at large.

The Director who advised the children to ensure they use the internet with caution said this would ensure their safety and protect them from the negative impact of some of the content.

On his part, the programs manager, Action Against Child Sexual Abuse Initiative, Victor Samuel said there was a need for parents and caregivers to give the girl child a voice to achieve their potential.

”One of the things we can do is to have good laws. you know, our legislative system needs to go back and check as regards the laws that concern and pertain to the girl child, because most of our laws are not, strong enough to uphold the girl child, and even the existing laws are not  properly implemented.”

According to him,” Most of the girls are out of school,  and if our policies, if our policies are strong, won’t have girl child involving themselves in child labor. ”

He noted that one of the major common challenges, that the girl child faces, is the lack of care, for most parents, don’t get to bring them to the forefront.

”Their parents don’t get to train them to that height the way they would train, a boy child. In most families where you have a boy child and a girl child, the parents can train the two of them.”

”They might be undergoing certain challenges which they might want to talk but we have this should I call it a silencing mentality in the African space it’s not just peculiar to Nigeria, it’s cut across the countries in Africa. So, if girls are encouraged to speak up, most of these things will be limited.”