Dubai: Observing International Day of the Girl Child, Dubai Cares on Saturday called on governments, activists, institutions and individuals to come together with a collective goal of improving the rights and opportunities of girls around the world.
International Day of the Girl Child, which takes place every year on October 11, is an international observance day declared by the United Nations. The observation supports more opportunity for girls and increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide.
Commenting on the occasion, Tareq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Cares, said: “In the present day, it is distressing that girls still face inequality in a number of areas. They endure discrimination when seeking education, medical care, legal rights, protection from violence and marriage. Dubai Cares is a true advocate of empowering girls around the world, and we believe in achieving gender equality. Equity is a prominent theme in all of Dubai Cares’ education programmes and we will continue to build on our success in securing equal access to education for boys and girls, and be advocates of female empowerment across the globe.”
In many parts of the world, young girls are still expected to sideline their education in favour of domestic duties. Some are burdened to care and support children as young or younger than themselves, forcing them to enter low-paid and labour-intensive activities to earn an income.
Dubai Cares has launched a number of programmes to support girl’s education in South Sudan, Pakistan, Yemen, Mozambique and Philippines.
In South Sudan, Dubai Cares built and equipped two schools. In Pakistan, it worked to improve access of girls to quality primary education by supporting schools and communities in Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh provinces.
Dubai Cares also implemented targeted infrastructure interventions with special emphasis on providing girls with access to education in Yemen.
In Mozambique, the Dubai Cares AMOR programme aims to invest in actions and activities that will help in reducing barriers and build assets at several critical points in a girl’s life cycle.
In Philippines, Dubai Cares has launched a programme that aims to secure a platform for girls to break through the hurdles of gender norms and achieve professional and personal success equivalent to their male counterparts in two of the country’s poorest provinces, Masbate and northern Samar.
“Unless there is a concentrated effort prioritised by all, a total of 500 million girls growing up today will never complete their schooling due to gender-related barriers. If things remain unchanged in sub-Saharan Africa, where girls battle to exercise their right to education, it will take 100 years before all girls attend primary and lower secondary school. We must continue to bring effective solutions so that no girl is ever left behind.” Al Gurg said.
