By Ruth Oginyi
Hope Inspired Foundation for Women and Youth with Disabilities a Non- non-governmental organization (NGO) with support from the Disability Rights Fund, Wednesday celebrated the International Day of the Girl Child with school girls in Ebonyi state.
The Non-Governmental Organization visited Girl’s High School in Ugwuachara, Ebonyi local government area, and sensitized them on their rights and urged them to protect their right.
Adding should anyone try to abuse their right, they should report it so that the perpetrator will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
The theme of the 2023 celebration is invest in our girls’ rights, our leadership, our well-being ”
Hope-inspired foundation for women and youths with disability state team lead Oluchi Nwite during the sensitization noted that if parents invest in a girl child, the future is secured because she will grow to multiply.
She noted that the VAAP law ( as amended ) is one of the laws protecting the girl child in the state therefore they should speak up when their right is violated.
“It is important you know your rights and when someone violates it you have to speak out.
” Sexual reproductive health services is your right, rape is against your right so don’t allow such to happen to you”. She said
National Human Rights Commission state coordinator Francis Okorie and the PRO GBV task force team Goodness Mgbaja took the high school girls on their fundamental human rights and the need for them to speak up when their right is abused.
“One of the things we do as a task force is to arrest and prosecute offenders therefore if anyone violates your right speak up so that the law will take its course on the person”. Goodness said.
Also in her contribution Ugwu Ugochinyere Brenda woman leader women with disability and chairperson HIFWYD WWD TWC, Ebonyi state urged the young girls to advocate for the well-being of PwD in their homes.
“We are saying that the right you have is the equal right women with disability have.
“Therefore in our homes how do you treat your brother, your sister with a disability? So as you go home tell your parents to sponsor persons with disability to school so that the person will be self-dependent when he or she graduate.
One of the Students, Igwe Bliz called for quality programs and policies from the government to motivate girl children in the state.
“Government should create competition programs for the girl child in the state so that we can go out for competition and receive awards.
Also, government should make a policy protecting girl child education in the state. Some parents are not always willing to train their girl child but with government policy, parents will develop interest in training their girl child”.
Teacher Ezinne Chieme on behalf of the school said the sensitization is a sign that Hope Inspired Foundation has young girls at heart and said they will step down the key messages.
