Nations around the world yesterday marked the International Day of the Girl Child under the theme, “The Power of the Adolescent Girl: Vision for 2030. In Rwanda, the day was observed on Friday, with the national event taking place in Rwamagana District. The 2015 Day of the Girl came at a crucial moment, just weeks after the official launch of the 15-year Sustainable Development Goals and in the last year of the implementation of the 2000-2015 Millennium Development Goals. Adolescent girls will continue to be at the centre of the global community’s development goals and aspirations. How a nation treats its adolescent girls speaks a lot about how it treats its female population in general. In December, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly, through Resolution 66/170, set aside October 11 as the day to recognise the rights of girls as well as increase awareness about the challenges girls face – thus the International Day of the Girl Child. Nonetheless, while awareness about these issues – that range from girls’ rights to quality education and health to protection from sexual assault, poverty, among others – has since increased, little progress has been made in many parts of the world as millions of schoolgirls continue to drop out of school for various reasons, including unwanted pregnancies, while many other girls continue to be denied a right to education. Rwanda has been ranked by international agencies as one of the best countries to be born a girl, thanks to consistent efforts to protect and promote the rights of girls in recent years. Nonetheless, young girls and women continue to face unique challenges, which the Minister for Gender and Family Protection Odda Gasinzigwa, speaking during last Friday’s event, said needed collective and sustained efforts to address. Indeed, it is through concerted efforts by government, the private sector, civil society and parents that Rwandan girls can adequately be protected from any physical or psychological harm, including sexual violence, early marriage and unwanted pregnancies that often result in the pregnant girls dropping out of school. Some of these challenges can be addressed through increased sexual and reproductive health education both at the household and school or community level, and to punish those that violate girls’ rights. As a community, it is very important that we protect the girl child and afford her the same opportunity as she grows as the boy children, for respect for the rights of both sexes in their formative years would shape a new generation that allows girls and women to occupy their rightful place in society, thus maximizing their full potential in service of their nation.
