Young women still pegged back by social barriers
Govt urged to empower girls, end practices which leave them vulnerable
Govt urged to empower girls, end practices which leave them vulnerable. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
Nearly 22 million girls in the country between the ages of 10 and 19 years of age are still facing multiple social barriers and access to education due to long-standing issues of poverty, cultural norms and even geographical isolation.
However, some organisations are doing more than just talking about the problem, and are challenging some of these issues head-on.
With October 11 marking the International Day of the Girl Child, an event was held in the capital by the US Embassy and USAID on Wednesday to highlight how local organisations throughout the country were improving the lives of girls through the Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Programme (SGAFP).
Women chamber aims to encourage entrepreneurs
“When girls are educated, they can make better futures for themselves, their families, their communities, and their countries,” said US Ambassador David Hale.
“The United States government invests heavily in educating and enabling girls; and through the SGAFP, the American people have worked with Pakistani NGOs to improve the lives of over a million Pakistani women,” he added.
A documentary, “Second Chance at Hope,” was also screened which narrated the story of 288 girls in a remote area of Jafarabad in Balochistan where the local high school is too far.
Students from the USAID-supported Anjuman Nawjawanan Charsadda performed the national anthem in sign language.
Girls from a USAID supported orphanage presented a tableau performance on Allama Iqbal’s poem “Lab Pai Ati Hai Dua.”
Although the grants listed under this programme are called ‘small’, their impact is enormous, said Saeed Ashraf Siddiqi, chief party of USAID SGAFP.
Greater protections needed
The government must protect girls from antiquated customary practices such as vanni, swara, child marriages and empower girls.
This was stated by participants at a separate seminar on the status of girls in the country.
Girls Not Brides members, which include social and child rights activists, urged the federal and provincial governments to put an end to child marriages, stressing that ending the practice was critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
National Commissioner for Children Syeda Viqarunnisa Hashmi said, “It is very unfortunate to see that our young girls, instead of going to school, are begging at traffic signals and becoming victims of sexual abuse every day.”
She said this causes such victims to suffer from mental traumas, destroying them mentally and physically.
“Such evil acts steal their childhood,” she said.
Awaz (Parwan alliance) Chief Executive Ziaur Rehman pointed out that most government schools in the country lack basic facilities such as proper washrooms and clean drinking water due to which a vast majority of girls quit school when they attain puberty.
“Over 30 per cent of girls schools in Punjab do not have boundary wall due to which they feel insecure and exposed.”
Rehman stressed on the need for including human rights, reproductive health and rights in the curriculum at the primary level so that girls are taught to them at a very young age.
Mulana Tayyab of the Muttahida Ulema Council and Mohtamim Jamia Ashrafia, Kahteeb Masjid Mohabat Khan said, “Nowhere in Islam or the Holy Quran is it written or mentioned women should be beaten.”
Conference encourages young women to work
He clarified that Islam strictly prohibits beating women or forcing her to do things.
“Men have no right to forcefully ask his wife or daughter or sister to do things in their homes or treat them like slaves,” he said, urging the government and activists to come up with laws which safeguard women’s rights and empower them.
Blue Veins Programme Coordinator Qamar Naseem said a lack of attention to child marriage had held the country back from reaching six of the eight MDGs.
“It is vital that we should avoid making this mistake again.”
Iqbal Ditho, a child right’s expert, said that around 21 per cent of girls are married before the age of 18, which is quite worrisome.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2017.
Nearly 22 million girls in the country between the ages of 10 and 19 years of age are still facing multiple social barriers and access to education due to long-standing issues of poverty, cultural norms and even geographical isolation.
However, some organisations are doing more than just talking about the problem, and are challenging some of these issues head-on.
With October 11 marking the International Day of the Girl Child, an event was held in the capital by the US Embassy and USAID on Wednesday to highlight how local organisations throughout the country were improving the lives of girls through the Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Programme (SGAFP).
Women chamber aims to encourage entrepreneurs
“When girls are educated, they can make better futures for themselves, their families, their communities, and their countries,” said US Ambassador David Hale.
“The United States government invests heavily in educating and enabling girls; and through the SGAFP, the American people have worked with Pakistani NGOs to improve the lives of over a million Pakistani women,” he added.
A documentary, “Second Chance at Hope,” was also screened which narrated the story of 288 girls in a remote area of Jafarabad in Balochistan where the local high school is too far.
Students from the USAID-supported Anjuman Nawjawanan Charsadda performed the national anthem in sign language.
Girls from a USAID supported orphanage presented a tableau performance on Allama Iqbal’s poem “Lab Pai Ati Hai Dua.”
Although the grants listed under this programme are called ‘small’, their impact is enormous, said Saeed Ashraf Siddiqi, chief party of USAID SGAFP.
Greater protections needed
The government must protect girls from antiquated customary practices such as vanni, swara, child marriages and empower girls.
This was stated by participants at a separate seminar on the status of girls in the country.
Girls Not Brides members, which include social and child rights activists, urged the federal and provincial governments to put an end to child marriages, stressing that ending the practice was critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
National Commissioner for Children Syeda Viqarunnisa Hashmi said, “It is very unfortunate to see that our young girls, instead of going to school, are begging at traffic signals and becoming victims of sexual abuse every day.”
She said this causes such victims to suffer from mental traumas, destroying them mentally and physically.
“Such evil acts steal their childhood,” she said.
Awaz (Parwan alliance) Chief Executive Ziaur Rehman pointed out that most government schools in the country lack basic facilities such as proper washrooms and clean drinking water due to which a vast majority of girls quit school when they attain puberty.
“Over 30 per cent of girls schools in Punjab do not have boundary wall due to which they feel insecure and exposed.”
Rehman stressed on the need for including human rights, reproductive health and rights in the curriculum at the primary level so that girls are taught to them at a very young age.
Mulana Tayyab of the Muttahida Ulema Council and Mohtamim Jamia Ashrafia, Kahteeb Masjid Mohabat Khan said, “Nowhere in Islam or the Holy Quran is it written or mentioned women should be beaten.”
Conference encourages young women to work
He clarified that Islam strictly prohibits beating women or forcing her to do things.
“Men have no right to forcefully ask his wife or daughter or sister to do things in their homes or treat them like slaves,” he said, urging the government and activists to come up with laws which safeguard women’s rights and empower them.
Blue Veins Programme Coordinator Qamar Naseem said a lack of attention to child marriage had held the country back from reaching six of the eight MDGs.
“It is vital that we should avoid making this mistake again.”
Iqbal Ditho, a child right’s expert, said that around 21 per cent of girls are married before the age of 18, which is quite worrisome.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2017.