International Girl Child's Day

 "I raise my voice – not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard.” echoes Malala Yousafzai. You might be flummoxed why did I quote her, some might have presumed. Yes, you read my mind. As Today is International Girl Child's Day, I would like to season my thoughts on the situation about the girl child now. 2022 has been a vicious year for the girl child. In Afghanistan, many girls were nipped in the bud from accessing education. On September 30, 2022, over 50 girls and young women, predominately Hazara, were killed as they were preparing for an exam at the Kaaj educational centre in Dasht-e-Barchi, western Kabul. In Taliban, women are forbidden from accessing education. In Syria, hundreds of Yazidi girls and women continue to be enslaved by Daesh, having been abducted from Sinjar in August 2014. They continue to be abused and the end of their suffering is nowhere to be seen as the international community is not acting to rescue them. And the list goes on. I felt like, stone in my heart when I read this in newspapers and it shook my soul to the core.

Now, I would like to club my thoughts, on why is International Girl Child's Day Celebrated? We celebrate it to recognise girls right's and the unique challenges that a girl faces around the world.

I would like to throw some challenges faced by every women in India. I feel disconsolate that a women cannot step out at night without a man, women are expected to abide by, they should always compromise even when they feel dejected and perilous environment, there is no shielded place and they are impelled to learn all the domestic works. There are increased rapes, sexual harassments, subjection to child marriage and child trafficking. Needless to mention, women are being harassed in public places by bullying, remarking indecently, intimidating their human dignity and eve-teasing.The problem of dowry, where the girl’s family has to give a large amount to the groom’s family, is an age-old and regressive problem that still prevails even in this digital era directly or indirectly. Due to the inability of providing dowry, many families abandon the girl child and female foeticide is at an all-time high. There are not enough schools especially for girls in rural areas. As girls reach puberty their freedom and right to education are snatched away and they are prohibited from going to school. Due to lack of proper sanitation facilities, many women unwillingly drop out of school. Even after girl gains an education and a degree and enters the workplace, the problems and issues do not stop. At most workplaces be it corporate or even in a government office, the power play dynamic is exploited. Many male superiors take advantage of their juniors and harass them for pleasure and engage in unlawful activities. I was completely struck dumb when I wrote this. It's like one can hardly believe one's eyes.

As we know, every cloud has a silver lining. Now, I would like to portray my views on how to overcome these complications. It's tranquil, just;    

Voice your thoughts by promoting women's sense of self-worth, their ability to determine their own choices, and their right to influence social change for themselves and others.

Support one another: It's empowering to know what can be achieved if we work together in numbers as a community. So, step out to see a better version of this beautiful world and join hands to work together with a sense of responsibility and a sense of collective belongingness. 

Dear readers, kindly share the workload.There is no joy in possession without sharing. So, both men and women should share equal responsibilities and not with a sense of overburden on a single person.

Get involved to improve: Embrace every good opportunity you encounter; some will get you informed; others will get you inspired. Some will get you involved and others you make you improved.

Educate the next generation: "Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” quotes Malcolm X. We must always remember that, we have not inherited this planet from our forefathers we have borrowed it from our children. So, it's our responsibility to handover this precious legacy to our children with its fullest glory. Kindly, don't wait for decades for a transformation to happen as in the case of our parents. So, educate others and it should be our basic right which we should follow.

Know your rights. 

You might have wally of questions regarding girls right's...The Constitution of India guarantees to all Indian women equality (Article 14), no discrimination by the State (Article 15(1)), equality of opportunity (Article 16), equal pay for equal work (Article 39(d)) and Article 42.Women in parliament: 14.5%, women in labour force: 27.2%.

Know your rights, educate it to those who are not aware about it and don't forget to give to the cause. 

Thus, I would like to conclude by saying, "Life is like a fingerprint that cannot be duplicated". So, make the best impression with it. Live it, love it and don't waste a single moment in your life because time has no holiday, dreams have no expiry date and life has no pause button. Dear girls, always remember to accept your past without regret, handle your present with confidence and face your future without fear. Dear generation of Eves', on this red letter day, I would like to request you to join the chain, with a sense of responsibility to work in unison by either going that extra mile or working within your reach for OUR bright and better future. Always remember: Where there is will, there is a way. 

SAFA SALSABEEL Z