By J. K. Nabary, GNA
Ekumfi Twia (C/R) Oct. 16, GNA- Ms Eunice Nanah, Child Ambassador of Central Programme Unit of Plan International -Ghana has appealed to policy makers to set grounds for girls and women to make strategic choices and decisions.
She said society had for the past years been speaking of girls in leadership roles” debating on it but it without action taken and it was about time to allow girls or women to enjoy the same rights resources, opportunities and protection as their counterparts.
Ms Nanah made the call when she was addressing a durbar of School children, Teachers, Parents, Assembly members, Heads of Departments and Institutions in Ekumfi District at Ekumfi Twia to commemorate this year’s International Day of the Girl Child.
The event themed Girls Get Equal Opportunities to take-up Leadership roles in Society, is facing major challenges due to Gender Inequality” was organised by CPU Plan International Ghana.
According to Ms Nanah, Gender equality did not require that girls and boys, or women and men be treated, exactly alike, but rather implied an absence of bias or discrimination.
She said Equality between women and men was both a human rights issue and a pre-condition for an indicator of sustainable, people-centred development.
Equality between adult men and women provides children a model for mutually respectful relationships, as well as the full realisation of everyone’s human rights and If children could not witness and internalise social norms, attitudes and behaviours that support gender equality, equality between girls and boys would be difficult for them to achieve. She stated.
She said equality of opportunity would not create equality of outcomes given the significant advantages and status differentials that girls face, saying, targeted interventions that promoted empowerment of girls and women were often a pre-condition for true equality.
“Quotas have served as effective affirmative action for promoting the participation of girls and women in public forums”.
She said equality frequently required providing disproportional or unequal resources and service to the group facing discrimination, saying girl and boys may face different vulnerabilities and enjoy different access to key resources and opportunities during their critical periods which led setting them on different life trajectories.
Culture also contributes to gender inequality; men traditionally enjoy a privilege position as compared to women, with greater power and voice and as results they are frequently able to ensure that their preferences and values with regard to culture prevail, she stated.
She therefore stressed that discussing the topic,” Girls get equal opportunities to take up leadership roles in the society” there would be the need to break the silence on gender inequalities in order to encourage more girls and women into leadership positions in the society.
GNA
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