By Chioma Awujo
As the global community celebrates International Day of the Girl Child, the Civil Society Organizations have urged girl children to stand up against sexual harrassment, exploitation and abuse.
The girl children were also advised to report any potential threat of abuse to security personnel and civil rights groups.
The call was made during the sensitization visit of members of Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) in partnership with Imo State Universal Basic Education Board (IMSUBEB) and other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to Ubomiri Girls Sec School, on Wednesday.
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Speaking, the Imo State CSACEFA Coordinator, Elder Kenneth Amogu noted that the theme for the year's celebration, 'Our Time is now, Our Rights, Our Future' was apt and timely.
He disclosed that the IDGC 2023 was being marked in the state in a collaboration between CSACEFA, 7 Other civil Society Organizations and IMSUBEB, adding that the events would involve visits to relevant stakeholders to advocate for increased budgetary allocation and funding for the education of the girl child.
He further availed that other programmes lined up for the event included visit to the IMSUBEB Chairman; interactive Radio talk show programme in four radio stations in the state and school awareness visit to selected girls schools in the state.
He said that this year's theme charges girl children to stand up to their rights and take their future in their hands.
He urged them to ensure that they are not sexually harrassed, exploited and abused, stressing that all the challenges confronting the girl child must be brought to the front burner for them to be addressed.
He enjoined the girls to speak up against any abuse, exploitation harassment, among others being melted on them by anybody.
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In her contribution, the Executive Director of Network for the Advancement of Vulnerable Persons, Joy Daberechi urged the girl students to continue to live responsibly so that they will become better women in the society, while calling on them to report any potential threat of sexual harrassment, exploitation and abuse to the nearest police station for prosecution.
A Medical Doctor in the team, Dr Oparaocha DivineGift who represented Open Arms Initiative, took the girls through their reproductive health rights for healthy living.
Highpoints of the school visitations was teaching the girls how to produce reusable sanitary pads, distribution of sanitary pads, handbooks on Puberhty, Growth and Change in Girlhs, exercise books and other writing materials, sanitary pads, among others, provided by all partnering NGOs.
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