Punjab Assembly glows pink for International  Girl Child Day

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly building was decked out in pink lights to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child on Thursday.

The International Day of the Girl Child is a global observance designed to raise aware and promote girls’ rights, along with the issues they face.

Read more: 16 days of activism: gender based violence in light of women property rights

The initiative was led by Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhaammad Ahmed Khan, who talked about the day’s significance.

In an address to media, the Speaker talked about the importance of a girl’s right to education, autonomy and equal opportunists in society.

The International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated every year on October 11. It was established by the United Nations in 2019. Besides right to education, the UN designed the day to raise awareness on issues facing the female gender worldwide: gender inequality, early marriages, violence, genital mutilation, among other.

The day also encourages governments, organisations and societies worldwide to take action to empower girls and help them get basic rights denied to girls based on their gender.

In Pakistan, gender disparity remains a huge issue, with girls facing huge challenges that hinders  their development and access to opportunities.

According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the literary rate for females in the country stands at a disappointing 60 per cent, compared to 75 per cent for makes.

The disparity in education limits girls’ access to quality leaning and future employment opportunities, perpetuating vicious cycle of poverty that plays a huge hand in them staying in abusive marriages.

Cultural norms and societal expectations often are the biggest hindrance to girls’ autonomy and freedom in Pakistan. Many girls are subjected to early marriages, with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reporting that around 21 per cent of all girls in Pakistan are married before the age of 18. That is almost 25 million girls who are child brides!

Early marriage not only curtails a girl’s right to education but also exposes them to health risk and domestic violence.

The challenges extend beyond education and marriage, however. As per a report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, girls are often victims of gender-based violence, including domestic abuse, honour killings and sex trafficking.

The lack of legal protection and enforcement of existing laws further exacerbates these issues, leaving millions of girls in Pakistan vulnerable.

Read more: Australia scraps Afghanistan T20s, citing worsening women’s rights

The biggest hurdle of all, however, is the systematic and cultural resistance to change for the better in getting girls their rights.

Deeply embedded patriarchal norms has long hindered a desired change despite policy changes, educational resources and creating safe spaces for women.