Over One hundred teenage girls from the 14 Administrative Districts of Sierra Leone have called on Government to develop a National Girls Empowerment Policy to protect teenage girls from sexual harassment, early marriage, teenage pregnancy, rape, among other societal exploitations.
These recommendations came out of a recently concluded National Girls Empowerment Forum which ended Monday 29th June.
It was organized by the Kids Advocacy Network (KAN) with support from World Bank and the One Family People organization.
The National Girls Empowerment Forum (NaGEF) was designed to be an educative platform that brings together teenage girls all over the country to be lectured, informed, and motivated by exemplary young and adult women who have excelled in their various careers in life so as to serve as role models.
Edmond Alim B Fornah, Executive Director and Founder of Kids Advocacy Network, said the program was meant for participants to identify factors that were responsible for the increase of girl child abuse cases and make recommendations to government and donor partners to find solutions.
Mr. Fornah revealed at the occasion plans by KAN, with support from its partners, to support 50 teenage girls for four academic years with a scholarship package which will include full tuition fees, monthly allowance, and quarterly mentorship program.
He said the package will benefit Ebola orphans, teenage girls who became pregnant in the course of the Ebola epidemic and other vulnerable teenage girls.
Senior Social Services Officer at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, Daniel Albert Gbow, pledged his ministry’s support towards the initiative. He cited the Child Right Act of 2007 as example of how committed the government was towards this direction and said the Social Welfare ministry was working hard to further popularize the Act.
The National President of Women’s Forum; the umbrella organization for women organizations, Maude Peacock called on participants at the forum to pay great attention to the various speakers.
Beatrice Kamara of the National Revenue Authority say the Authority was very committed towards promoting girl child education in the country; she noted that her institution had been supporting vulnerable children in the country especially during the Ebola outbreak in the country. She called on participants of the forum to study hard in order them to archive the 50 percent for women participation in governance in their generation.
Mr. Mohamed B Koroma, Chairman Western Urban Youth Council, also pledged his institution`s commitment towards the development of young people. He therefore urged the Government to consider the recommendations from participants.
Koroma also promised that the Youth Council will work closely with Kids Advocacy Network towards the popularization of the planned policy and also the popularization of the Child Right Act.
Abu Conteh, representative of the Chairman of the Conference of Principles, said the Conference of Principles, the Sierra Leone Teachers Union and Kids Advocacy Network will work closely to popularize the Teachers Code of Conduct that will discourage teachers from having love relationship with children or dating teenage girls for grade.
In his Keynote Address, the Deputy Minister of Political and Public Affairs, Hon. Karamoh Kabba, hailed the move taken by the child advocacy organization called on the Judiciary, parents and school authorities not to compromise any girl child abuse case. He also called on participants of the forum to be self-confidence and stay focus on their education and he pledged government`s continual support towards promoting girl child education.
The official opening was Climax with a play by One Family People whilst Ms. Haddiatou Jallow, Program Manager of One Family People, lectured on “Leadership and Career Discovery.”
Dr. Sylvia O Blyden lectured on “Building your Self Confidence” at the technical session.
(C) Politico 09/07/15
