Supporting the Girl Child

Read the Full Statement Talk to an Expert: Leslie Wright, Representative, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts Mary Purcell, UN Representative, International Federation of University Women

Sept. 6 - Last week, 22 nongovernmental organizations, including the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, International Federation of University Women, National Council of Women of Great Britain and discrimination against the girl child while promoting gender equality and equal access to services, including basic education and training, comprehensive primary and reproductive health care, nutrition and a safe environment.

"It is vital that national goals for children include specific mention of girls and targets for reducing disparities, many of which arise from discrimination and form a core violation of the rights of the child. This will help highlight gaps in performance and focus efforts on reducing disparities between girls and boys, bringing attention to the situation of girls, who often remain unseen, undocumented and unnoticed," the statement reads in part. The coalition highlights the following areas for consideration by the delegates of the Special Session:

Discrimination

Many girl children are not given the chance to survive. One-child family policies, son-preference, poverty and other factors, both social and cultural, mean that girl children are not selected for birth, are not properly nourished, are not cared for by the family, and are not educated.

These policies, whether state-sanctioned or not, lead to further disparities for the girl when she is grown. Many adults, including women, continue this pattern of abuse of girl children. It has to be eliminated at the root if there is to be progress in the development of countries.

Education

The coalition specifically asks for education in situations of armed conflict be strengthened. It is not sufficient that programs to prevent violence and conflict be addressed. It is also important that there be education to give children skills for their world – especially girls.

"People often resort to destructive behaviour. Rape of girls in refugee camps – by those who are in the camp and by those who should be protecting them – is a serious problem. These programs have to also address the specific needs of teaching girls skills of self-protection," reads the statement.

In addition, the statement notes that special training on standards of behaviour towards children –girls and young women in particular – should be mandatory for teachers at primary and secondary levels. In some countries going to school has become a deadly risk for girls because of HIV.

Health

Early marriage and childbirth is not healthy or safe for girls. The document promotes giving a higher priority to maternal and neonatal mortality through "information about sexuality" and "training of parents and especially men who have sex with girls, whether married to them or not." The statement also urges specifically addressing the need for better nutrition for girls, as many low birth weight babies can be avoided if girls who are pregnant are better nourished, and if girls who will be pregnant as women are better nourished when they are girls.

HIV/AIDS

The outcome document from the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children must specifically recognize the vulnerability of girls to HIV/AIDS. Every minute 6 young people are infected with HIV, and the vast majority, 67%, are girls. More than 10 million people ages 15-24 are living with HIV and 50% of all new infections occur in young people. Girls face particular vulnerability due to their immature bodies that are more likely to tear during sexual activity, making transmission more likely. The response from many governments has been to say that girls should just say no to sex. In most societies girls are expected to be virgins and sexually ignorant, but it is this sexual ignorance that leaves girls vulnerable and heightens their risk of infection.

For many girls saying no is not an option. Early and forced marriages leave many girls unable to negotiate sex, let alone safe sex. Rape, poverty, trafficking and prostitution give girls little opportunity to negotiate their fate. These situations, that affect many more girls and women than boys and men, make HIV an issue that must be addressed in a manner specific to the needs of girls.

Studies done on the effectiveness of treatment and care must be segregated by age and sex to determine their usefulness for girls. Resources provided for prevention, care and treatment should be allocated to recognize the vulnerability of girls, and the fact that now, this disease affects more girls and women than it does men. It also affects all future generations of human beings.

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