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| COMMENT: Sexual Violence Against Girls Is REAL |
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| Date: 09-Mar-2010 |
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'I was raped by a man who claims he wants to marry me,’ said a 14 year Old Girl. ‘I was forced to marry him but when I refused and said I wanted to finish school first, I was kidnapped and sent to the man’s house where he forcefully had sex with me….’a 17 year old primary 6 pupil.
For how long will such cases prevail in Ghana? The answer is simple: As long as our society continues to underestimate the prevalence and negative effects of sexual violence, especially school-based sexual abuse in Ghana.
Sexual violence against girls is REAL. It denies girls of their rights to a safe school environment and society in general. It makes girls drop out of school, become unskilled and unemployable; deny them the prospects of earning a decent income and their rights to participate in economic, social and political decision making. It ultimately dints their prospect of becoming responsible women.
Developing a society of equality and fairness, that provides for the freedom, dignity and participation of women in social, economic and political governance requires a concerted action by political authority, the judiciary, media and local community to develop girls into responsible women, to enable them play meaningful roles in the family and the wider community. This may prove elusive without an education, especially quality basic education. With about 15% of girls being denied basic education in Ghana, the future of the next generation of women remains threatened.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day Monday 08, 2010, GNECC challenges Ghanaians to recommit to provide quality education for all children, especially girls and guarantee the protection of girls’ rights in education, especially at the basic level.
The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Ghana Education Service and District Assemblies should demonstrate greater commitment to punishing perpetrators of sexual abuse against girls in school, irrespective of one’s socioeconomic or political status. We demand justice for victims of sexual violence in school as a panacea for deterring would be perpetrators of school based sexual violence against girls.
We demand an end to teenage pregnancy, early marriages, defilement and rape in schools. A safer school environment for girls, enhances the retention and the quality of learning outcomes of girls, and further opens a window of opportunity to becoming responsible and useful women to society.
Together, as a nation, let’s say NEVER AGAIN to sexual violence against girls in school. |
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| Source: Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition Airport-Accra |
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