Pleading for girl child rights

IT HAS come to my attention that there is a significant increase in cases of abuse of the girl child.

Abuse of the girl child is like a thorn piercing my heart. With great concern and agony, I pen this letter as a course of action to lobby for ways to mitigate and alleviate the current prevailing situation of the vulnerable girl child.

With a heart of empathy I hereby speak for the voiceless. The wellbeing of the girl child is now in shambles and I call for the protection of the rights of the girl child which are now facing antagonistic forces.

If William Wilberforce could successfully advocate for the abolishment of the slave trade, it is also feasible for us to advocate for the rights of the girl child. He was a white man who lobbied for the relief of the black man. As man, you too can lobby for the rights of the girl child. You have an obligation to conserve the ethical values and the welfare of the girl child.

Some of our negative cultural practices have influence in the violation of the rights of the girl child. When the family is haunted by avenging spirits, the girl child is put in spotlight, why not the boy child or the wrongdoers?

Pledging the girl child for food in the time of need is an unethical practice. It is the primary duty of the breadwinner to provide food for the family.

In his quote, Wilberforce said “it is the true duty of every man to promote the happiness of his fellow creatures to the utmost of his power”. with reference to the numerous reported cases where the girl child is being sexually abused by the one who is providing her foster care. We must remember that their vulnerability is not a choice but a predicament beyond their control and imposed upon them by our very own community.

The abuse of the girl child has both physical and psychological effects, which impair their dignity and scars them for life.

Labelling and discrimination can lead to loss of confidence and can result in school dropouts and suicides.

The use of girl children in marriage pledges and to quench the marital strays of rogue adults is an abomination. Why must these innocent souls be sacrificed for the sake of these barbaric acts?

The long arm of the law must surely descend heavily and without mercy upon those found in breach of the sacred rights of the girl child.

The girl child plays a pivotal role in fighting poverty and spearheading the economy. Once she is abused she becomes incapacitated, she feels rejected both at home and in society.

In conclusion, I urge all those victims, in the unfortunate event of abuse, to seek medical attention immediately. No cases should be swept under the carpet. The health facilitators must provide continuous counselling to rehabilitate the victim and ensure resounding societal integration.

You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.