By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
An organization named and styled, Girl Health Alliance has launched a massive campaign aimed at educating young girls on sexual reproductive health and human rights in Liberia.
Held under the theme: “Making Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and Equality a Rights Through Youth-led Community –Action,” the campaign has brought together students from various schools in attendance in Monrovia.
Speaking during the program, the alliance’s Executive Director, Pauline Gartor said it the time to stop all forms of violence against women, forced marriage and encourage the respect for women’s right to education in the country.
She said there is a need to reduce the gap between boys and girls in education, because women have the potential for development once they are given the opportunity just as they are given boys.
Ms. Gartoe encouraged members of the LiberianLegislature to increase the allotment for girl’s education and called for a complete halt to tradition practices that violate the rights of girls.
The Executive Director of the Girls’ Health Alliance also stressed the need for women to be given the rights on when to get marry and born children.
According to her, teenage marriage has created negative impact of the growth of young women over the years as it has impeded their ability to develop their skills and advance their education.
Ms. Gartoe said the high rate of rape in the country in recent times is scaring and there is a need for the government to take punitive action in reducing this menace against the vulnerable youths .
Also speaking, a senior staff at the Save Life Liberia, Vasco Maseh, advised the participants to have confidence that they can perform just as the males in the schools. She spoke on the theme, “Advocacy and Leadership”.
According to Maseh, girls can do any jobs that is prescribed for boys as long as they are determined to learn or undergo the training.
At the end of the training, the participants resolved to take the knowledge acquired from the training to others who could not effort to form parts of the discussion.