Chisom Ozoigbo
To empower a girl, it is said, is to empower a nation. This is to say that the value of the girl-child to a nation cannot be overemphasised. The girl-child is a precious gift to be cherished, nurtured and shielded due to her complex nature, fragility and the sensitive but indispensable position she occupies in the scheme of things. However, this is not to say the boy-child should be relegated; they represent strength and valour.
However, instead of the gender privileges the girl-child should naturally enjoy as a result of the special place, the reverse is the case. Going by the recent reports from different parts of the world, the issues such as gender-based violence, sexual harassment, and discrimination against girl-child have been alarming.
It is hard to believe that in this day and age, girls have continued to be vulnerable to such high levels of danger.
According to reports, one in every three girls experiences physical or sexual violence, and the numbers are increasing by the day. The fact that these evils are committed by people known to the victims, including family members, teachers, and community leaders, in spaces that should be safe – homes, schools and communities – is even more disturbing.
Recently, a 300-level female student of Ajayi Crowther University was raped right inside a classroom in the school environment by security personnel that were supposed to ensure the safety of the students. She was also victimised when she went to the school’s medical unit to receive medical attention after the incident.
Whereas the consequences of gender-based violence are far reaching and devastating, the survivors often suffer from physical and emotional trauma. This can equally lead to depression, anxiety, and even suicide, just to mention a few.
There is also the scar of fear of victimisation, low self-esteem, lack of confidence, early pregnancy and maternal death. The fear of violence generally limits the girl-child’s access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, which even endangers their lives more.
Several occurrences of the girl-child in danger are reasons we need to acknowledge that the safety of the girl-child is not just a family or school issue but a societal one. It requires a collective effort to create a culture of respect, empathy, and zero tolerance for violence against the girl-child in whatever form of capacity. We must educate our boys and men to value and respect the girls and women in general.
Moreso, as a society, we must establish safe spaces for girls to share their experiences and access support services such as counselling, legal aid, and rehabilitation services.
Comprehensive teachings that focus on consent, boundaries, and healthy relationships should also be emphasised. I want to advocate female representation in law enforcement and judiciary to ensure gender-sensitive handling of cases, while stricter laws should be enforced against gender-based violence and harassment.
Let the boys also be involved in advocacy and awareness efforts to promote gender equality. Meanwhile, girls should receive proper self-defence training as empowerment programmes and adequate security, be made available in public spaces to prevent harassment and violence.
We must carry out the above measures collectively in order to truly create a world where the girl-child can grow up safe, confident, and empowered to reach her full potential.
Chisom Ozoigbo, Ibadan, Oyo State.
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