Posts Tagged ‘ girl’s rights ’

An Investment in Girls is an Investment for All

Jul 10th, 2016 | By
Jamila Zeyne, who is 20 years old, and who has been married since she was 13, poses for a photograph in her house as  part of a UNICEF photo project to show Girls Empowerment in Mareko, Ethiopia Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015. The project aims to document the hopes, dreams and aspirations of Ethiopian girls in different parts of the country. Jamila says: "“I got married because my father forced me to. I was given two options, either to get married or to be sent to the Arab countries to work. I am not happy because I wanted to study. If the government introduces night school in our area I will go back to learn. Early marriage is bad because when we get pregnant and want to deliver, it is very difficult for our bodies. We are too young managing a home is not easy".

By Suzanne York. July 11th is officially recognized as World Population Day, a day meant to raise awareness on the impacts of population growth on people and the environment. This year’s theme for World Population Day is “investing in teenage girls.” In much of the world today their needs are shunted to the back burner
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Climate Change & the Link to Child Marriage

Dec 30th, 2015 | By
Unknown-1

By Suzanne York. Child marriage is a difficult issue that is complicated by culture and religion, and especially by poverty.  Now it seems that climate change is another complicating factor. It might be surprising to find out that extreme weather could be increasing the rate of child marriage and other detrimental impacts on children. But
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Heeding the Voice of Youth to Save Youth

Jul 30th, 2014 | By
Afghan schoolgirls [photo credit: womenthrive.org]

By Suzanne York, www.howmany.org An unsettling article in the New York Times recently highlighted how the world is failing to protect and educate youth, especially girls.  At the same time, the article underscores how important education is for adults too, in order to help them protect children. The piece – Struggling to Keep Afghan Girl
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Let Girls Be Girls, Not Brides and Wives

Mar 11th, 2014 | By
[photo credit: www.un.org]

By Suzanne York, www.howmany.org If there was ever an issue that should galvanize the international community to take action – no matter politics or religion – child marriage has to be near the top of the list.  One in three girls in the developing world is married by age eighteen. The United Nations states that
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There is No Progress Without Empowering Women and Ending Inequality

Feb 20th, 2014 | By
[image: www.kpbs.org]

By Suzanne York, www.howmany.org Last week, the United Nations released a report that found that despite gains in reducing global poverty, growing inequalities will undo significant gains in health and longevity made over the past 20 years. According to the ICPD Beyond 2014 Global Report, the estimated 1 billion people living in the 50 to
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Why Girls Need a Special Day of Recognition

Oct 10th, 2013 | By
day of the girl

By Suzanne York, www.howmany.org Perhaps more than almost anyone else, girls all over the world deserve a day of recognition.  This October 11th is International Day of the Girl, a special day intended to highlight an issue of global importance.  Girls, who are all too often ignored or devalued, could use some international support. The purpose
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Valuing Life: Spotlighting the Crisis of Girls in India

Apr 24th, 2013 | By
petals in the dust

By Suzanne York, www.howmany.org It’s a subject that few want to discuss, but one of paramount importance.  It is the topic of violence and discrimination against girls (including child marriage), which is occurring with increasing frequency. In India, the past few months have brought increased attention to gender violence, based on some horrific, yet sadly
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