Learn To Speak Out, Teenage Girls Told

Chiemeka ADINDU, Calabar

In a bid to ensure that molestations and abuse meted at the girl child comes to end. Teenage girls have been advised to always confide in their parents and trusted mentors about their daily encounters.

President of the Seventh-day Adventist church in Cross River Conference, Pastor Edy Ewoh made the call on the occasion of the 2020 International Day of the girl child. He emphasized on the need for the teenage girls to avoid whatever that is capable of exposing them to danger.

The clergy further encouraged them to be mindful of their activities and friends they keep as this will go a long way in ensuring their safety.

Also, a mother, Mrs Rita Okon stressed on the need for them to be prayerful for God to protect them from the hands of the abusers of the girl child. She warned that they should be careful of male folks who may entice them with gifts, stating that it could be a way of luring them in doing things they would not want to do.

She also narrated how she was abused in her early years by someone very close to the family. She therefore averred that they should not make the mistake of thinking that close relatives cannot abuse them. She emphasized that whatever they do today will have a direct or indirect bearing on their future.

The International Day of the Girl Child is a United Nations day which focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights. It is celebrated every 11th day of October, annually.

The celebration was adopted in 1995 at the World Conference on Women in Beijing where  countries unanimously adopted the action which is believed to be the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing the rights of not only women but girls. The Beijing Declaration is the first to specifically call out girls’ rights. The theme for the 2020 celebration is “My Voice, Our Equal Future”.