Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Babatunde Ahonsi has charged government and civil society organizations to formulate policies that would champion the holistic development of the girl child.
At the fifth edition of the International Day for the Girl Child celebration in Accra, Dr Ahonsi revealed that a global gap in data on the growth of the girl child has contributed to some persisting abuse challenges.
The International Day of the Girl Child is a UN observance that is annually held to promote girls’ rights and also highlight gender inequalities between girls and boys.
In December 2011, the UN declared that it would annually observe the International Day of the Girl Child, starting from October 11, 2012.
The initiative is aimed at fully eradicating discrimination and violence against girls and violations of their human rights.
In Ghana, the Day was observed in Accra by the UNFPA, Ghana Health Service and the Hope for Future Generations, a nonprofit organisation championing equal opportunities for women and children through sustainable partnerships.
Dr Ahonsi hinted that global data on the girl child from birth to teenage is not properly collated hence the challenges of abuse they face during teen years.
Executive Director of the Hope for Future Generations Cecilia Efua Senoo charged government to institute policies that would give more relief and leverage to girls in their holistic development.
A key highlight of the celebration was the official launch of the HopePal Project, which is going to be focused on persons with disability (PWDs).
The ceremony also coincided with the fifteenth anniversary of the Hope for Future Generations (HFFG).
At the ceremony, numerous individuals that have supported the initiative of empowering women and achieving a sustainable development plan for children were awarded.
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