“If effectively supported during their adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world – both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads and political leaders,” says Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube.
The Minister said honouring girls was acknowledging their importance, power and potential and in that way fulfilling their human rights.
She was speaking at the Commemoration of International Day of the Girl Child held at the Development Bank of Southern Africa in Midrand on Friday.
Gwarube said as the department, they were inspired to produce empowered girls who grow up to be educated and skilled women.
On 19 December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66 of 170 to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognise girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.
“It is a well-documented fact that an educated and skilled woman is far more effective in preventing mortality, take care of the household decisively and more sophisticatedly, and contribute better in society,” Gwarube said.
Investing in girls is not only the right thing to do, but also brings positive impact to their families, communities and societies as a whole.
“The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.
“Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years, but also as they mature into women.”
Gwarube said an investment in realising the power of adolescent girls upholds their rights today and promises a more equitable and prosperous future, one in which half of humanity is an equal partner in solving the problems of climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention and global sustainability.
“Girls are breaking boundaries and barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion, including those directed at children with disabilities and those living in marginalised communities,” the Minister said.
She said as entrepreneurs, innovators and initiators of global movements, girls are creating a world that is relevant for them and future generations.
“Achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is integral to each of the 17 goals. Only by ensuring the rights of women and girls across all the goals will we get to justice and inclusion, economies that work for all and sustaining our shared environment now and for future generations.
“Adolescence is a critical stage of development in every person’s life. It determines the trajectory of children’s lives, which is why caring for girls in their youth benefits all.
“If girls are empowered at a formative age, they can mature into liberated, wise women of the future. In this way, as a society, we all win.
“As we celebrate this day, we also need to be mindful of the fact that children need to be protected against their increased vulnerability to sexual violation. Young girls do not violate themselves, they do not impregnate themselves. Counterpart boys and older men perpetrate these violations,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
