Ananke | Realizing An Inclusive Future

highl ighting: Edu cation Gen der Equ al ity Su stain abil ity M oder n Econ om y In n ovation & Em er gin g Tech

ANANKE

REALIZINGANINCLUSIVEFUTURE

InFocus OF

Cl imateChange& Gender Justice

EnsuringAnIncl usiveFuture

ADDRESSINGTHEGAPIN FEMALE ENTERPRENEURSHIP

Chil dBrides & Their Misfortunes

Girl s Right toEducationinDevel oping Countries

Recognising& AddressingSRHR Chal l enges affecting Adol escents & Young Girl s DuringThe Pandemic

BINDU: EMPOWERINGTHEBENGALI W OMAN

WritingontheW al l Theworl dhas beeninundatedwith unprecedentedmoments intheyear 2020 ? fromthepandemic rampagingacross the gl obeandil l ustratingthetruthinal l of its stark andstrikingreal ity. Beit health, education, care- work, equal pay, access, opportunityandwhat haveyou? deep rooted, conscious or unconscious biases, discriminationandinequal ities occurs at theintersectionof gender, race, col or, creed, rel igion, ethnicity? thel ist does goon...

TheCOVID19 has j ust brought this into thel imel ight.2020 is humanity?s moment of truth! It is timetounderstand, acknowledgeandact insol idarity. W eMUST real izediversityandincl usionneedtobe at theverycenter of devel opment!

Sowhil ethepandemic rages on, hopedoes springeternal withmanycomingtogether andhoppingonthevirtual bandwagonto raiseawareness, informandeducatehow societies, nowmorethanever, havean opportunitytotransformandpositively impact al l l ives.

This special editionis aproof of the immensepower of story- tel l ingandhow raisingawareness is thesteppingstoneto triggeringconversations focusingon real izinganincl usivefutureandcreating meaningful societal impact ? basedon rights, j usticeandequal ity. Soreadon?

- SabinMuzaffar Founder, ExecutiveEditor

Edit or ial Founder | Execut ive Edit or SABIN MUZAFFAR Human Right s Advisor MELANIE BUBLYK Senior Cor r espondent ROCHELLE DEAN Of fshor e Cor r espondent CHIAMAKA ADINNU Ar t & Design - Sabin Muzaffar

IMAGES Cour t esy PIXABAY Unsplash Unit ed Nat ions Root s & Shoot s UAE CBS LUMS

Con ten t can on l y be r epu bl ish ed with pr oper accr editation to An an k e (website URL), wr iter 's n am e an d l in k to th e or igin al ar ticl e.

NEWS

AnankeGirl Summit wel comes 300 guests in MENAregion?s first ever digital summit on thegirl chil d

An an k e ? a digital pl atfor m em power in g wom en th r ou gh awar en ess, advocacy an d edu cation ? wel com ed 300 gu ests on October 29th , 2020, at th e M ENA an d Su bcon tin en t r egion s? fir st ever digital even t focu sin g th e gir l ch il d. Th e even t was n ot on l y l ar gel y atten ded by wom en an d gir l s, 99 per cen t of th e gu est speak er s wer e wom en . Th e Gir l Su m m it was cr eated, pr odu ced an d execu ted su ccessfu l l y with an al l -fem al e team an d on e m al e tech su ppor t con su l tan t fr om Du bai-based Tr eeH ou se Con su l tan cy LLC. H ostin g m or e th an 30 session s th at in cl u ded en gagin g fir eside ch ats, pan el discu ssion s, k eyn ote

speech es an d wor k sh ops, An an k e?s Gir l Su m m it focu sed on th e th em e ?Real izin g An In cl u sive Fu tu r e.Th is was th e fir st-ever digital Su m m it, with fem al e em power m en t at its cen ter , acr oss th e M ENA r egion an d th e Su b-con tin en t with session s h el d sim u l tan eou sl y th r ou gh ou t th e day. Th e day-l on g Su m m it in cl u ded im por tan t topics of discu ssion in cl u din g Edu cation , Gen der Equ al ity, Su stain abil ity, In n ovation & Em er gin g Tech n ol ogiesan d M oder n Econ om y.

Th e Gir l Su m m it offer ed im m en se val u e by n ot ju st h igh l igh tin g su bjects th at for m th e basis of a th r ivin g, su stain abl e society, th r ou gh th e even t An an k e

br ou gh t togeth er a diver se team of wom en an d gir l s fr om acr oss Afr ica an d th e Su bcon tin en t on boar d as par t of th e even t team .

Fr om age 13 to 40, th ese wom en an d gir l s wer e tr ain ed an d m en tor ed to su ccessfu l l y execu te th eir r espon sibil ities th at in cl u ded con ten t cr eation an d cu r ation , com m u n ication s an d l iaison , tech n ical an d digital su ppor t of a u n iqu el y digital , even t pl atfor m , m oder ation as wel l as seam l ess coor din ation du r in g th e even t. Th e team was given oppor tu n ities to peer m en tor in g, n etwor k in g with accom pl ish ed tr ail bl azer s pr e- an d du r in g th e even t as wel l as m oder atin g session s on

th eir own .

Th e even t al so in cl u ded th e gr an d fin al e of Teen sIn Ai?s H ack ath on ? th e Dem o Day ? wh ich was or gan ized to cel ebr ate Ada Lovel ace Day. Col l abor atin g with An an k e in or gan izin g a m em or abl e Su m m it, even t par tn er s in cl u ded som e of th e m ost pr om in en t n am es r egion al l y as wel l as gl obal l y, in cl u din g: IBM ,Cen tr e for Bu sin ess an d Society- LUM S,Th e Fr ed H ol l ows Fou n dation , Tr eeH ou se Con su l tan cy,Con n ected W om en Pak istan ,W om en En gin eer s Pak istan ,CIRCLE, In ter n ation al W om en Em power m en t Even ts,Beau tifu l Sou l Lou n ge,PW iC Gl obal ,Evol u tion 360, Twittistaan , W om en In Law - An In itiative by LEARN,Acor n Aspir ation s,Lah or e Edu cation & Resear ch Networ k LEARN,Th e Gen der Secu r ity Pr oject,CodeGir l s by Con su l Net Cor por ation , Teen sIn Ai an d W EE Gl obal Live.

Par tn er in g with An an k e to em power gir l s, Th e Citizen ?s Fou n dation in vited m em ber s fr om with in th eir com m u n ity to avail m oder atin g oppor tu n ities offer ed by th e even t or gan izer.

Tal k in g abou t th e al l ian ce, th e TCF team said: ?Th e fl ow of com m u n ication was fast an d con sisten t th r ou gh ou t. An an k e?s team was ver y cooper ative

th r ou gh ou t th e even t, even wh en we en cou n ter ed l ogin issu es. W e wer e copied in al l em ail s, wh ich was n ot n ecessar y, bu t it did h el p in k eepin g tr ack with th e u pdates on ou r al u m n i.Th e even t itsel f l ook ed wel l -coor din ated an d or gan ized especial l y given th at it was vir tu al .?

Th e even t offer ed an ar r ay of in ter active wor k sh ops in cl u din g Stor yBoar d with Pu r va Gr over , Fr eel an cin g 101 with Faiza You su f, Cyber W om en : Navigatin g th e W eb with th e M edia M atter s for Dem ocr acy team , Gen der Focu s: Ch al l en gin g Social Nor m s with An gbeen M ir za an d M ar va Kh an ? academ ics fr om Lah or e Un iver sity of M an agem en t Scien ces, Pak istan , In th e Lim el igh t: Pu bl ic Speak in g with An ik a Su bh a (Upom a) Ah m ed an d IBM session with M el issa Sassi an d Ph il a Dl am in i.

Gu ests gu sh ed abou t th e l ear n in g gain ed fr om atten din g th e even t du r in g an d even after th e con cl u sion of th e Su m m it.

Oth er session s in cl u ded dial ogu e on even t topics su ch as Gen der Ju stice an d Cl im ate Ch an ge; En gen der in g Data; Pr ivil ege, Agen cy in Decision M ak in g & Gen der Equ al ity; STEM l ik e a Gir l , th e FQ NextGen Pan el , W el l n ess 101, Th e Fr ed H ol l ows Fou n dation Pan el on th e im pact of eye h eal th on gir l ?s em power m en t & equ al ity, Th e Gen der Secu r ity Pan el on r igh ts, advocacy an d l aw, Gir l s: Th e Face of Gig Econ om y, as wel l as th e Gin sbu r g

Pan el cel ebr atin g th e l ate Ru th Bader Gin sbu r g..

Appl au din g An an k e?s effor ts,COO Gen etech Sol u tion s, Fou n der CodeGir l s, Adviser W om en In Tech PK, ViceCh air per son ? P@ SH A, Sh am im Rajan i said:"Th r ou gh capacity bu il din g activities an d by cr eatin g oppor tu n ities for l eader sh ip devel opm en t th r ou gh in cl u sive dial ogu e, th e An an k e Gir l Su m m it an d m or e su ch even ts ar e en abl in g gir l s to iden tify th eir tr u e poten tial an d pave a path th at wou l d l ik e l ead to su ccess. I am pr ou d to a sm al l par t of al l su ch in itiatives."

Th e even t wil l be fol l owed by th e pu bl ication of An an k e?s special edition focu sin g wom en especial l y th e gir l ch il d. Recor din gs of al l session s ar e cu r r en tl y bein g u pl oaded on An an k e?s You Tu be ch an n el an d can be accessed by visitin g An an k eM ag on th e You Tu be pl atfor m .

Per ilous Pat h t o Pr ogr ess & Recover y Amid COVID19

By M elan ie Bu blyk

Th e year 2020 h as been dom in ated by a gl obal pan dem ic th at h as pr ofou n dl y im pacted on ever yon e?s l ives. 2020 al so m ar k s th e 25th an n iver sar y of th eBeijin g Pl atfor m for Action . Th e Pl atfor m for Action en vision ed a wor l d wh er e ever y wom an an d gir l can exer cise h er fr eedom s an d ch oices, an d r eal ize al l h er r igh ts, in cl u din g l ivin g fr ee fr om al l for m s of viol en ce, h avin g access to edu cation , par ticipatin g in decision m ak in g pr ocesses an d bein g paid equ al l y for equ al wor k . Th e Pl atfor m for Action h as im pr oved th e l ives for m an y wom en an d gir l s ar ou n d th e wor l d sin ce its in ception . Existin g gen der in equ al ities m ean th at wom en an d gir l s ar e m or e vu l n er abl e to th e effects of COVID-19 an d pr e-existin g in equ al ities ar e bein g exacer bated.W h il st it is tr u e th at th e effects of th e COVID-19 pan dem ic h ave

h ad a n egative effect on both m en an d wom en , it is wom en an d gir l s wh o ar e m or e vu l n er abl e.En d Viol en ce Again st Ch il dr en r ecom m en ds stayin g u p to date an d in for m ed on n ews of COVID-19 an d its effect on ch il dr en becau se th e pan dem ic is an evol vin g situ ation . Positive pr ogr ess m ade to im pr ove th e l ives of wom en an d ch il dr en is at r isk of r egr ession becau se of th e gl obal pan dem ic. As th e vir u s con tin u es to spr ead acr oss th e wor l d, we ar e al l facin g m u l tipl e n ew str esses, in cl u din g ph ysical an d psych ol ogical h eal th r isk s, sch ool an d bu sin ess cl osu r es, fam il y con fin em en t, isol ation , an d econ om ic vu l n er abil ity.

Th r ou gh al l of th at, ch il dr en ar e par ticu l ar l y vu l n er abl e. Now m or e th an ever befor e it is im per ative to en su r e th at th e m ost vu l n er abl e peopl e ar ou n d th e gl obe ar e n ot l eft beh in d.

UN W om en ?sSen ior Resear ch an d Data Special ist Gin ette Azcon a says th at?for th e l ast 22 year s, extr em e pover ty gl obal l y

h as been decl in in g. Th en cam e COVID-19, an d with it, m assive job l osses, sh r in k in g of econ om ies an d l oss of l ivel ih oods, par ticu l ar l y for wom en . W eak en ed social pr otection system s h ave l eft m an y of th e poor est in society u n pr otected, with n o safegu ar ds to weath er th e stor m ?. In cr eased l evel s of pover ty becau se of th e pan dem ic wil l al so widen th e gen der pover ty gap, m ean in g, m or e wom en wil l be pu sh ed in to extr em e pover ty th an m en .Th eUN W or k in g Gr ou pon discr im in ation again st wom en an d gir l s cau tion th at ?in th e absen ce of gen der sen sitive in ter section al r espon ses, differ en t for m s of system ic discr im in ation al r eady faced by wom en an d gir l s wil l be exacer bated?.Au str al iah as n ot per for m in g wel l wh en it com es to gen der equ ity an d fail s to r an k in th e top 10 in East Asia an d Pacific, l aggin g bel ow th e Ph il ippin es an d

Laos. Au str al ia is r an k ed 1 in an d com m u n ities pl aced th e wor l d by th e W or l d u n der str ess by h eal th an d Econ om ic For u m ?s2020 econ om ic bu r den s.

Gl obal Gen der Gap Repor tfor Real isin g an in cl u sive fu tu r e gen der par ity in edu cation al is fu n dam en tal to th e attain m en t an d th er efor e r ecover y pr ocess if we ar e to Au str al ia?s sh ar p decl in e in pr even t th e pr ogr ess th at h as gen der par ity is l ik el y to be been ach ieved fr om bein g attr ibu ted to str u ctu r al wou n d back .In cl u sion is bar r ier s an d based on r espect for al l discr im in ation .Tan gibl epr ogr ess h u m an r igh ts an d towar d gen der par ity was fu n dam en tal fr eedom s, al r eady u n bal an ced ar ou n d cu l tu r al an d r el igiou s th e wor l d befor e th e diver sity, social ju stice an d pan dem ic with im m en se th e special n eeds of gen der gaps ar ou n d th e vu l n er abl e an d wor l d. Pr ogr ess wil l r egr ess if disadvan taged gr ou ps, th er e is n o action tak en on dem ocr atic par ticipation , an d th e dispr opor tion ate im pacts th e r u l e of l aw. In cl u sion th e COVID-19 pan dem ic h as su per sedesdiffer en ces of on wom en an d gir l s. r ace, gen der , cl ass, In a stu dy u n der tak en by th eFou n dation for You n g Au str al ian s, 55% of you n g peopl e in dicated th at th ey ar e con cer n ed abou t th eir m en tal wel l bein g in th e l on g-ter m becau se of th e COVID-19 pan dem ic.

Resear ch u n der tak en byPl an In ter n ation al r eveal ed th at gir l s an d you n g wom en ar e bear in g th e br u n t of COVID-19?s secon dar y im pacts, with 95% sayin g th e pan dem ic h as n egativel y im pacted th eir l ives. Th e COVID-19 pan dem ic h as h ad con sequ en tial im pacts on th e psych o-social wel l bein g of ch il dr en an d th eir car egiver s.

M or e th an 8 in 10 ch il dr en r epor ted an in cr ease in n egative feel in gs. W h il st th e h eal th im pacts of COVID-19 do n ot th r eaten th e h eal th of ch il dr en an d you n g peopl e in th e sam e way as it does ol der peopl e, th ey ar eim pactedin oth er ways in cl u din g disr u ption s to edu cation , th eir pr otective str u ctu r es disr u pted an d th eir fam il ies

gen er ation , an d geogr aph y. It is pr om oted by social pol icies th at seek to r edu ce in equ al ity an d cr eate fl exibl e an d tol er an t societies th at em br ace al l peopl e.

M el an i e Bu bl y k , An an k e's H u m an Righ ts Advisor ,was ch osen as an Em power W om en Gl obal Ch am pion for W om en 's Econ om ic Em power m en t 2015/ 2016 an d h as al so wor k ed as an Em power W om en M en tor 2016-2017. M el an ie is dedicated to advan cin g W om en 's Righ ts an d h ol ds a Bach el or of Ar ts in Com m u n ity Devel opm en t, an d a M aster s degr ee in H u m an Righ ts with Cu r tin Un iver sities Cen tr e for H u m an Righ ts Edu cation in Per th , W ester n Au str al ia an d r eceived two l etter s of com m en dation for th e sam e.

FoodInsecurity& Migration

By Chimak a Adinnu

Accor din g to th e W or l d Econ om ic For u m in 2020, th er e wer e 272 m il l ion in ter n ation al m igr an ts wor l dwide; a figu r e wh ich r epr esen ts appr oxim atel y 3.5 per cen t of th e wor l d?s popu l ation an d su r passes pr ior pr ojection s for 2050.

On its own , th is m ay n ot seem so m u ch of a pr obl em u n til we con sider th at h igh im m igr ation often m ean s on e th in g; on goin g or br ewin g tr ou bl e fr om th e l an d of m igr ation .

Factor s su ch as em pl oym en t oppor tu n ities, econ om ic in cen tives, con fl ict, pover ty, cl im ate ch an ge, en vir on m en tal degr adation , an d m ost im por tan tl y food in secu r ity exacer bate an d in fl u en ce th e decision of peopl e to m igr ate eith er acr oss bor der s or with in th eir own cou n tr ies.

In th e past two year s, th er e h ave been in cr easin g con cer n s abou t m igr ation du e to food in secu r ity. A r ecen t stu dy of eigh t devel opin g cou n tr ies in fer r ed th at m igr ation can be dr iven by food in secu r ity cu l m in atin g fr om th e adver se cl im atic factor an d th e su bsequ en t im pact on agr icu l tu r al ou tpu t. An oth er stu dy su ggested th at m igr ation h ad becom e a typical copin g str ategy th at r u r al far m er s an d h ou seh ol ds adopted in th e face of adver se cl im atic factor s th at r edu ces far m pr odu ctivity wh il e aggr avatin g food in secu r ity.

Iden tical r esu l ts wer e fou n d in a case stu dy in Gh an a, wh ich r eveal ed th at m igr ation h as becom e a typical l ivel ih ood str ategy u sed by m an y r u r al h ou seh ol ds to cope with adver se weath er con dition s th at r edu ce far m pr odu ctivity an d th r eaten food secu r ity. A br ief by

Joh n Podesta al so r eveal ed th at Sou th Asia, Cen tr al Am er ica, Nor th west Afr ica, an d th e H or n of Afr ica ar e al so som e of th e com m on l y cl im ate m igr an ts. Th is is in addition to th e pr ojection by th e W or l d Ban k in 2018 th at th r ee r egion s (Latin Am er ica, su b-Sah ar an Afr ica, an d Sou th east Asia) wil l gen er ate 143 m il l ion m or e cl im ate m igr an ts by 2050.

A sad r eal ity su ch as th is can give r ise to u n pal atabl e devel opm en t su ch as in cr eased viol en ce an d con fl ict between m igr an ts an d h ost com m u n ities. A typical exam pl e is th e r ecu r r in g con fl icts between em igr an ts (m ajor l y n om adic h er dsm en ) fr om th e n or th er n par t of Niger ia with th eir h ost com m u n ities fr om th e cen tr al an d sou th er n zon es.

Th ese cl ash es got to a h ead in 2016 wh er e an estim ated death tol l of 2,500 occu r r ed. In th is case, th is con fl ict in itial l y dr iven by m igr ation du e to food in secu r ity an d poor access to n atu r al r esou r ces l ik e pastu r es r ath er th an yiel din g positive ou tcom es ? on l y pl u n ged th e h ost com m u n ity in to ser iou s econ om ic cr ises an d exacer bated food in secu r ity.

In th e sam e vein , th e in cr eased possibil ity of econ om ic cr isis du e to for ced m igr ation dr iven by food in secu r ity is al ways existen t for h ost com m u n ities. Th is is l ar gel y becau se m an y com m u n ities in devel opin g an d u n der devel oped cou n tr ies h ar bou r l ar ge in fl u xes of im m igr an ts over pr ol on ged per iods of tim e. W ith in th is per iod, th er e is an in ver se bu t dispr opor tion ate effect on th e econ om y of th e r eceivin g com m u n ity.

Yet, over tim e, th er e h as been som e con sider ation s in ter m s of adoptin g pol icies for m igr an ts du e to cl im ate ch an ge. On e of su ch pol icies adopted is Th e Gl obal Com pact for Safe, Or der l y, an d Regu l ar M igr ation (adopted by 164 cou n tr ies? n ot in cl u din g th e U.S.? in M ar r ak ech in Decem ber 2018). Th is pol icy cal l s on cou n tr ies to m ak e pl an s to pr even t th e n eed for cl im ate-cau sed r el ocation an d su ppor t th ose for ced to r el ocate.

Even th ou gh th is pol icy h as been adopted, it is n eith er l egal l y bin din g n ot su fficien tl y devel oped to su ppor t food-in secu r e m igr an ts du e to cl im ate ch an ge.

W OM EN AN D GI RL S PAY TH E PRI CE W h il st th e issu e of food in secu r ity an d m igr ation con tin u es to be a h u ge pr obl em , th eir effects on th e fem al e gen der r em ain s atr ociou s. Th is is l ar gel y becau se th e r el ation sh ip between food in secu r ity an d m igr ation in ten tion s depen ds vital l y on social expectation s based on gen der.

It is a k n own fact th at wom en ar e m or e l ik el y to bear a m ajor br u n t of food in secu r ity an d as su ch , ar e pr edisposed to n u r se th e in ten tion s of m igr atin g for econ om ic an d food secu r ity pu r poses. Yet, in th e sam e vein , th e dyn am ics of m ost h ou seh ol ds (par ticu l ar l y in th e Afr ican cu l tu r e) ar e su ch th at fr own s u pon fem al e gen der m igr ation an d is seen as viol atin g gen der n or m s. An FAO r epor t in dicates th at m igr ation in th e Afr ican settin g is widespr ead an d th at m igr an ts ar e pr edom in an tl y m al e, with

wom en l ik el y to be l eft beh in d in th eir h om e cou n tr y. In Niger ia an d som e oth er Afr ican cou n tr ies, it is th e cu l tu r al n or m for wom en (par ticu l ar l y m ar r ied wom en ) to stay back even in th e face of adver sities in th eir h om e cou n tr y an d better oppor tu n ities el sewh er e, wh il e th eir m al e cou n ter par ts can m igr ate.

Accor din g to th eFAO, 60% of peopl e su ffer in g fr om h u n ger l ive in cou n tr ies affected by con fl ict. In th e cases wh er e food in secu r ity is fu el ed by cr isis or cl im ate ch an ge, th ese wom en stay back to face star vation , viol en ce, dr ou gh t, deser tification , an d even death .

On th e oth er h an d, wh en a fem al e in dividu al goes again st social expectation s an d m igr ates in sear ch of gr een er pastu r es, h opin g for wor th wh il e r em ittan ces to sen d back to h er fam il y, oth er factor s m ay m itigate h er ou tr igh t su ccess. Two of su ch factor s in cl u de; wage ear n in gs an d em pl oym en t oppor tu n ities. It is gen er al l y tr u e for som e cou n tr ies th at gen der in fl u en ces th e wage ear n in gs of in dividu al s. In oth er wor ds, wom en ar e m or e l ik el y to ear n l ower th an th eir m al e cou n ter par ts for th e sam e job descr iption . In ter m s of job avail abil ity for m igr an ts - except in som e sector s l ik e th e food ser vice an d h eal th car e sector - wom en m ay al so face a l ower pr obabil ity of secu r in g em pl oym en t in m ost oth er sector s, wh ich ar e often m al e-l abou r in ten sive.

Su bsequ en tl y,th is decr eases th eir l ik el ih ood to attain food secu r ity th r ou gh m igr ation .

H owever , in som e cases, "m igr an t wom en ar e l ik el y to becom e

tr an sn ation al car e wor k er s in cou n tr ies wh er e car egivin g is in h igh dem an d", says M ich eal D. Sm ith . Kn owin g al l th ese, th e qu estion is; wh ich way for war d for u s?

addition ,dr ou gh t m igr ation pl an s/ m easu r es su ch as capacity bu il din g, cr op in su r an ce, en h an ced ir r igation sch em es, water h ar vestin g, in cr eased u se of dr ou gh t-r esistan t cr op var ieties, or even in cr ease in TH E W AY FORW ARD water su ppl y fr om In th e face of th ese n egative Gover n m en ts du r in g su ch im pacts, th e n eed ar ises to season s etceter a ou gh t to be adopt in ter ven tion adopted as wel l . str ategies th at wou l d Su m m ar il y, food in secu r ity m itigate again st m igr ation is on e of th e r oot cau ses of du e to food in secu r ity. A for ced m igr ation . W h en m ost effective str ategy viewed fr om a gen der ed wou l d be str en gth en in g th e per spective, th e situ ation agr icu l tu r al sector by h as dir e con sequ en ces. As in vestin g h eavil y in m igr ation con tin u es to agr icu l tu r al pr odu ction . It in cr ease in ou r does n ot on l y r edu ces th e con tem por ar y society an d possibil ities of for ced we ar e faced with th e m igr ation , bu t it al so sol ves sadden in g ch al l en ges it th e issu e of th e h igh r ate of poses to both th e you th u n em pl oym en t im m igr an ts (par ticu l ar l y (wh ich is al so a factor th at fem al e m igr an ts) an d th e in fl u en ces m igr ation ) an d h ost com m u n ities, it is n ow m itigates again st con fl icts cl ear - m or e th an ever - th at du e to m igr ation . It al so we h ave to tack l e food r edu ces th e atr ociou s effect in secu r ity u r gen tl y. Th e of m igr ation an d food n eed exists for ever yon e to in secu r ity on th e fem al e stan d in sol idar ity, com e u p gen der. with an d adopt oth er Th er e is n o dispu tin g th e feasibl e in ter ven tion n egative im pacts of str ategies in addition to th e en vir on m en tal degr adation above-l isted m easu r es as a an d cl im ate ch an ge on faster an d m or e effective agr icu l tu r al pr odu ctivity appr oach to tack l in g food an d ou tpu t. Th is factor pl ays in secu r ity gl obal l y. a cen tr al r ol e on th e m igr ation patter n s of som e Ch i am ak a Ad i n n u , peopl e. For in stan ce, it h as An an k e?s Of f sh or e Cor r esp on d en t i n N i ger i a an d been fou n d th at citizen s of Com m u n i cat i on s M an ager , i s a El Sal vador , Gu atem al a, an d Food Sci en t i st w h o?s p assi on at e H on du r as ten d to m igr ate to abou t gen d er ad v ocacy an d th e Un ited States du e jou r n al i sm . Sh e h as ov er 5 y ear s tocl im ate ch an ge. W h il e it of ex p er i en ce i n h i gh -l ev el is par am ou n t to bu il d a r esear ch an d acad em i c w r i t i n g, r esil ien t agr icu l tu r al sector w i t h sev er al aw ar d s t o h er by in vestin g h an dsom el y in n am e. H er w or k i s f ocu sed on it, al l effor ts wou l d be ad d r essi n g i ssu es r el at i n g t o wasted if adver se cl im ate f ood i n secu r i t y an d gen d er ch an ge r em ain s r ecu r r en t. i n equ al i t y an d so, w r i t es a Adver se cl im ate even ts su ch m on t h l y col u m n on f ood as dr ou gh t an d pests can be i n secu r i t y. A con t em p or ar y m an aged at th e n ation al y ou t h act i v i st an d gen d er l evel by adoptin g Nation al ad v ocat e , Ch i al so v ol u n t eer s dr ou gh t pol icies th at r edu ce w i t h sev er al N on -p r of i t or gan i zat i on s i n r en d er i n g su sceptibil ity to dr ou gh t. In ser v i ces t o h u m an i t y.

THEDIGITAL GENDERGAP INPAKISTAN byHiraMansoor

Th e wor l d we ar e l ivin g in , r evol u tion ized by tech n ol ogy is tr an sfor m in g an d r apidl y ch an gin g l ifestyl es by br in gin g ever yth in g u n der a cl ick of th e th u m b! W ith th e em er gen ce of a gl obal h eal th cr isis , th is year h as been th e gen esis of a n ew er a th at br in gs al on g n ew ch al l en ges for digital tr an sfor m ation , in n ovation , an d gr owth .

Th e ?New Nor m al ? is on l y possibl e if gover n m en ts, bu sin esses an d citizen s

h ave th e n ecessar y digital tool s to h ook -u p to th is vir tu al wor l d. Th e digital sector cam e to th e r escu e du r in g th e pan dem ic by pr ovidin g tool s for gover n m en ts to offer ser vices, bu sin ess to con tin u e wor k an d ch il dr en to con tin u e edu cation .

It al so br ou gh t to th e fl oor , l ik e n o oth er tim e befor e, th e star k r eal ity of th e digital gen der gap. As digital tr an sfor m ation affects econ om ies an d ch an ges th e way we wor k , in ter act an d l ive, str ategies to en su r e th at tech n ol ogy becom es a gr eat ?Equ al izer ? ar e ver y im por tan t. An d u n for tu n atel y, fail u r e to addr ess th is gapcan becom e a m ajor r eason of gen der in equ al ities.

Th is can exacer bate in equ al ities, h am per in g

oppor tu n ities for wom en to con tr ibu te towar ds l abor for ce par ticipation , attain sk il l s an d access in for m ation .

Look in g deeper in to th e digital divide,th e em er gin g h eal th cr isis m ay r ein for ce th e gen der gap th r ou gh its im pact on gir l ?s edu cation .

W ith ou t access to digital tech n ol ogy, gir l s can n ot attain on l in e edu cation . Th e Digital space offer s im m en se pr ospects for cr eatin g on e?s own iden tity,

l ever agin g poten tial s for gr owth , pr ovidin g on l in e pl atfor m s for socio-econ om ic m obil ity an d fu n dam en tal fr eedom r igh ts to th e m ost vu l n er abl e segm en ts of society.

Today an d in to th e fu tu r e , it is per tin en t to assess an d con ver se abou t wom en ?s in cl u sion in to th e digital wor l d.

In ter n ation al don or or gan ization s h ave star ted to l ook for pol icy for m u l ation an d in ter ven tion s ar ou n d

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Todayandintothefuture, it is pertinent to assess and converse about women?s incl usion into the digital worl d.

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cl osin g th e digital gen der divide to en su r e wom en ?s in cl u sion .

Th eM obil e Gen der Gap Repor t 2019pu bl ish ed

by GSM A, cites th at52% of wom en ar ou n d th e wor l d ar e n ot u sin g th e in ter n et. Fu r th er , th er e is a wide m obil e gen der gap in Sou th Asian cou n tr ies wh er e wom en ar e 28% l ess l ik el y th an m en to own a m obil e an d 58% l ess l ik el y to u se m obil e in ter n et. Th e r epor t al so states th at th e m obil e gen der gap in Pak istan is 37%.

Accor din g to GSM A,?M obile phones ar e valued by wom en as tools that enhance their lives, m aking them feel safer , m or e autonom ous and connected?.In a h ou seh ol d com pr isin g of both m al e an d fem al e m em ber s, with on e l aptop, m obil e ph on e or an y gadget avail abl e, cu stom ar il y wom en

str ive for its access.

W h er eas, u sage pr efer en ce is u l tim atel y gr an ted to m al e m em ber s of th e h ou seh ol d.

Rever ber atin g th e digital gen der gap, or l et?s say n o access to tech n ol ogy h as cr ippl ed th e devel opm en t in fr astr u ctu r e wh ich pr om otes wom en ?s access towar ds gr owth oppor tu n ities; in com e-gen er ation , wider m ar k ets, sk il l s en h an cem en t an d fin an cial au ton om y. Th e gl obal izin g effect of th e In ter n et cou pl ed with m obil e ph on es h as cr eated easil y accessibl e devel opm en tal oppor tu n ities for wom en .

Non eth el ess, wom en ?s socio-econ om ic em power m en t an d su stain abl e devel opm en t r em ain s im peded in Pak istan , cau sin g gen der

in equ al ities.

Impact of Cl osing Digital Gender Gap inRural Communities of Pakistan

Br idgin g th is digital gen der gap h as sh own favor abl e r esu l ts in pr om otin g COVID-19 h as adver sel y wom en -l ed affected Pak istan i r u r al m icr oen ter pr ises, wom en oper atin g in r u r al m icr o-en tr epr en eu r s,wh o com m u n ities of ar e pr edom in atel y Pak istan , to wor k h om e-based wor k er s, by r em otel y du r in g an y l im itin g th eir access to k in d of em er gen cy. wider m ar k ets cau sin g a Fr om a br oader h u ge bar r ier to th eir per spective, th e econ om ic par ticipation . in cl u sion of wom en Pak istan stan ds at 150th in th e digital wor l d position of wom en ?s h as n ot ju st en abl ed econ om ic par ticipation th em to r u n on l in e & oppor tu n ity as per bu sin esses bu t al so th eGl obal Gen der Gap m ar k ed th ier Repor t 2020 by W or l d pr esen ce ar ou n d Econ om ic com m u n ities For u m .Kaar van Cr afts th r ou gh digital Foundation is a leader pl atfor m s.

Digital in innovation andh as in cl u sion h as paved devised in n ovative its path for r u r al sol u tion s to br idge th is wom en to voice th eir digital gen der divide ch al l en ges an d am on g r u r al wom en n eeds to u r ban en tr epr en eu r s th r ou gh com m u n ities du r in g access & fl u en cy to an y cr isis. Th is is digital tool s & l iter acy, wh er e, for th e fir st m ass awar en ess an d tim e en gagem en t cam paign s. th atKaar vanstar ted

r aisin g ?Em er gen cy l ive on Facebook , Rel ief Fu n ds? for m ak in g con n ection s fin an cial su ppor t to with cu stom er s gl obal l y r u r al wom en ar tisan s an d sel l th eir cr afts th r ou gh el ectr on ic digital l y. Al th ou gh th eir cash tr an sfer s. Th e bu sin esses cam e to a em er gen cy fu n d was h al t, th ey con tin u ed establ ish ed to k eep a u sin g digital pl atfor m s fl ow of m on ey to gen er ate bu sin ess tr an sfer s to oppor tu n ity du r in g th e econ om ical l y h ar d-h it pan dem ic. r u r al wom en ar tisan s Tech n ol ogy h as so th at th ey can bu y con n ected r u r al wom en basic com m odities, with u r ban au dien ces m ost of th em bein g via videos, voice n otes sol e br ead win n er s of an d visu al im ages th e h ou se. Digital l y th r ou gh Kaar van?s in cl u din g wom en en abl ed en abl ed th em to open digital l y en gagem en t th r ou gh ban k accou n ts in th eir th e cam paign n am es an d im pr oved # BeApar tTogeth er an d th eir access to # COVIDdiar ies.

Ru r al m icr o-cr edit facil ities wom en en tr epr en eu rs an d th er eby en su r in g an d ar tisan s h ave n ow fin an cial in cl u sion .

Digital tech n ol ogy star ted to am pl ify th eir by pr oved to be a h u ge voices com m u n icatin g ?Gam e Ch an ger ? for r u r al wom en m icr o socio-econ om ic ch al l en ges bein g faced, en tr epr en eu r s, du r in g wh en Kaar vanin tr odu cedpar ticu l ar l y COVID-19. Th e u se of ?On l in e Exh ibition ? for digital pl atfor m s by th ese wom en to com e

r u r al com m u n ities in Pak istan h as activel y br idged th e Ur ban -Ru r al divide wh ich h ason l y been possibl e with tech n ol ogical in ter ven tion focu sed u pon u se of digital tool s an d pl atfor m s.

Digital W ayForward?

It h as tak en a gl obal pan dem ic to sh ow th e wor l d th at digital in equ al ity was th e r eal ity th at we l ive in ?

Don or agen cies, Gover n m en t bodies, Com m u n ity

Devel opm en t Or gan ization s an d Pol icy m ak er s m u st for m u l ate n ecessar y pol icies an d in ter ven tion s to l ever age digital tech n ol ogies th r ou gh con cer ted effor ts to tack l e both th e econ om ic an d n or m ative bar r ier s. Th e devel opm en t sector s sol e r espon sibil ity is n ot to ju st er adicate pover ty an d u pl ift m ar gin al ized com m u n ities bu t to r evol u tion ize tech n ol ogical

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m ovem en ts an d digital en abl em en t?s for m ar gin al ized com m u n ities.

Devel opm en t Exper ts an d Tech Sol u tion com pan ies m u st com e togeth er u n der a feder al l evel cou n cil to design eviden ce-based pr ogr am s with r eal l ife dem on str ation s an d case stu dies al on g with k n owl edge sh ar in g exer cises with pol icy m ak er s. For m ation of a n ew ?Devel opm en t Ecosystem ? th r ou gh n etwor k pl an n in g to en su r e wom en in cl u sion for an equ al digital l y en abl ed Pak istan .Str ategic col l abor ation s of Civil Society Or gan ization s with M obil e Paym en t par tn er s, Fin Tech com pan ies, In ter n ation al Gateway Par tn er s for su stain abl e l in k ages, Networ k Ser vice Pr ovider s an d M icr ofin an ce In stitu tion s.Digital r eadin ess for r u r al wom en ,con stitu tes tr ain in g & capacity bu il din g on th e n ecessar y ?Su r vival Kit? for r em ote tr ain in gs in cl u din g n ew con cepts of l ear n in g th r ou gh M u sic, Videos an d

Gam es. Su bsidized GST pack ages by Gover n m en t for paym en ts pr ocessed th r ou gh M obil e W al l ets wil l be en cou r agin g for wom en to adopt su ch fin tech pr ocesses.Robu stdata for an al ysin g digital gen der gap wil l be a cor n u copia for com m u n ity or gan ization s, pol icy m ak er s an d don or agen cies to ach ieve th is l an dm ar k .

Du r in g epidem ics, pan dem ics or an y su ch cr isis,access to tech n ol ogy an d digital tool s h ave pr oven to be a su stain abl e m ean s for l ivin g am on g u r ban an d r u r al com m u n ities. Th e dir ection is per ceptibl e per fectl y with th e r igh t tool s th at can be l ever aged to em power in cl u sive an d su stain abl e com m u n ities.

Nation s h ave al r eady r eal ized th at n o econ om y cou l d pr osper or r each su stain abil ity with ou t ?W om en ?. Bu t h avin g said th at, th er e is so m u ch th at n eeds to el im in ate gen der in equ al ities an d open u p en dl ess oppor tu n ities to for m a pr osper ou s ?Digitized Pak istan ?!

H i r a i s a developm ent pr a ct i t i oner , wor ki ng cur r ent ly wi t h K a a r va n Cr a ft s Founda t i on for i t s M oni t or i ng, Eva lua t i on & Resea r ch Depa r t m ent a nd pr evi ously wi t h Punja b Ski lls Developm ent (PSDF). She wor ked a s a Resea r cher wi t h UN Wom en Pa ki st a n for a ssessi ng soci o-econom i c condi t i ons a nd cha llenges of Wom en H om e-Ba sed Wor ker s.

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ENABLINGGIRL OUTCOMES VIADATA byDr HadiaMaj id

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REDUCINGGENDERINEQUALITIES IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THESDGS.

W or l d Ban k pover ty estim ates sh ow th at 44 per cen t of gl obal extr em e pover ty is con cen tr ated am on g ch il dr en . M or eover , th er e ar e 105 gir l s for ever y 100 boys l ivin g in extr em el y poor h ou seh ol ds. Th ese n u m ber s ar e fr om 2018. Th e econ om ic fal l ou t of th e COVID pan dem ic h as on l y exacer bated th ese statistics. Th at gir l s ar e am on gst th e m ost vu l n er abl e gr ou ps wor l dwide h as been wel l -establ ish ed acr oss th e

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social scien ces.

Th er efor e, r edu cin g gen der in equ al ities is an essen tial com pon en t of th e Su stain abl e Devel opm en t Goal s (SDGs). Not on l y h as im pr ovin g th e socio-econ om ic l ives of wom en an d gir l s been r ecogn ized as an en d in an d of itsel f, bu t th e focu s on fem al e ou tcom es stem s fr om th eir in str u m en tal ity in ach ievin g a wide r an ge of oth er SDGs. Addition al l y, em pir ical eviden ce h as sh own th at

em power in g wom en an d gir l s h as m u l tipl ier effects on im pr ovin g ou tcom es for fu tu r e gen er ation s too. In th is ar ticl e, I ar gu e th at data is in str u m en tal in h el pin g th e wor l d r edu ce gen der in equ al ities an d im pr ovin g th e position of th e gir l -ch il d.

Fir st, data h el ps ch ar acter ize th e issu e. Exten sive m appin g of socio-econ om ic var iabl es acr oss th e wor l d an d over tim e h as sh own th at poor fem al e ou tcom es an d gen der in equ al ities ar e per sisten t in m u l tipl e dim en sion s. Th ese h ave been estim ated in l ife expectan cies, l iter acy an d aver age edu cation al ach ievem en t, pol itical r epr esen tation , l abor for ce par ticipation an d wage r ates, access to pu bl ic goods an d ser vices, an d m an y oth er s.

Sim il ar l y, th er e is a h igh er in ciden ce of stu n tin g an d wastin g am on g gir l s in m u l tipl e r egion s acr oss th e wor l d, with fem al e in fan ts bein g wean ed faster th an m al e in cou n tr ies with a

pr oven in ciden ce of son -pr efer en ce. Fin al l y, stu dies h ave sh own th at poor fem al e ou tcom es both in absol u te ter m s an d in r el ation to th eir m al e cou n ter par ts ar e n ot ju st r am pan t at th e m acr o l evel bu t th at th ese per sist with in th e h ou seh ol d too.

Yet, u n der stan din g th e pr obl em does n ot sim pl y m ean a l istin g of th e var iou s issu es. W e al so n eed to com e to gr ips with wh y, wh en , an d h ow poor fem al e ou tcom es com e u p.

W ith in th e econ om ic l iter atu r e, we con ten d th at at th e h ou seh ol d l evel , it is typical l y in com e con str ain ts an d su ppl y-side factor s th at u l tim atel y r edu ce oppor tu n ities for gir l s.

Fem in ist econ om ics, al so r ecogn izes th e r ol e of gen der r ol es an d cu l tu r al n or m s in per petu atin g poor fem al e ou tcom es acr oss gen er ation s. H er e, th er e is eviden ce in dicatin g th at especial l y in th e absen ce of poor state pr ovision in g, par en ts pick ?win n er s? an d in vest in th e gen der wh ich is expected to do better in th e l abor m ar k et, ear n h igh er l ife-tim e ear n in gs an d as per l ocal cu stom s, pr ovides ol d-age

par en tal su ppor t. For in stan ce, secon dar y sch ool en r ol l m en t for gir l s sees a m ajor dr op in Pak istan .

Cl oser exam in ation of th is sh ows th at an u n der devel oped l abor m ar k et for fem al e secon dar y sch ool gr adu ates al on g with a poor su ppl y of fem al e teach er s an d gir l s-on l y sch ool s m ean th at cash -str apped h ou seh ol ds ar e u n wil l in g to con tin u e th eir dau gh ter s? sch ool in g. Not on l y do th ese h ou seh ol ds n ot see r etu r n s on in vestm en t in secon dar y edu cation , bu t com m u tin g costs, al on g with con ser vative m obil ity n or m s for gir l s wh o h ave ju st h it pu ber ty m ean th at h ou seh ol ds wou l d m u ch r ath er spen d th e m eagr e cash th at th ey h ave on con tin u in g boys? sch ool in g in stead.

Th is com bin ation of h ou seh ol d, su ppl y, an d n or m s-r el ated factor s can be u sed to expl ain gir l s? poor vaccin ation r ecor ds, cal or ie-in tak e, even pu bl ic tr an spor t u se.

Data th en h el ps iden tify th e issu e wh il e u n der stan din g its u n der l yin g r eason s.

On ce th is h as been

don e, it becom es possibl e to design in ter ven tion s wh ose specific featu r es l ook to al l eviate th e cau ses an d th er eby im pr ove gir l ou tcom es. Th er e h ave been m an y exam pl es of differ en t types of in ter ven tion s ? im pr ovin g gir l sch ool en r ol l m en t r ates by bu il din g bou n dar y wal l s an d fem al e on l y toil ets on sch ool pr em ises, pr ovidin g tech n ol ogy based sol u tion s su ch as SM S r em in der s for vaccin ation s to k ey decision -m ak er s su ch as m oth er s-in -l aw in con ser vative patr iar ch al societies l ik e Pak istan , bu t per h aps th e m ost pr ol ifical l y u sed type of in ter ven tion h as been cash tr an sfer pr ogr am s.

Al th ou gh su ch tr an sfer pr ogr am s h ave n u m er ou s objectives with pover ty al l eviation bein g a pr im ar y on e, im pr ovin g fem al e ou tcom es is al so a cen tr al pil l ar in m ost.

Th e ol dest con dition al cash tr an sfer (CCT) pr ogr am i.e. tr an sfer s th at l in k cash r eceipts to cer tain beh avior al con dition s, is th e M exican Pr osper o, an d CCTs ar e cu r r en tl y oper atin g in m u l tipl e cou n tr ies in Latin Am er ican , Asia an d

Afr ica. A cr u cial featu r e of m ost con dition al an d even u n con dition al cash tr an sfer s is th at th e am ou n t is tr an sfer r ed to th e wom an . Th is owes to em pir ical wor k th at h as sh own th at n ot on l y does access to an d con tr ol over in com e im pr ove wom en ?s statu s with in th e h ou seh ol d, bu t th at it l eads to h igh er decision -m ak in g power wh ich im pr oves ch il d ou tcom es especial l y th ose of th e gir l -ch il d.

Sim il ar l y, m ost CCTs attach con dition s r el ated to edu cation an d h eal th in vestm en ts special l y design ed to en for ce gr eater in vestm en ts in to gir l s r el ative to boys in cou n tr ies wh er e gen der in equ al ity is r am pan t.

In deed, eval u ation s of CCTs h ave sh own im pr ovem en ts in fem al e ou tcom es. For exam pl e, th e Pr osper o CCT h as been cr edited for th e r edu ced gen der in equ al ity in sch ool in g in M exico. Sim il ar l y, a pil ot CCT in Bu r k in a Faso saw sign ifican t in cr eases in r ou tin e pr even tative h eal th visits for gir l s.

wor k ed. Th is r eveal s weak n esses so th at pr ogr am r evision s m ay be in tr odu ced accor din gl y.

For exam pl e, th e fir st CCT l au n ch ed in In dia pr ovided tr an sfer s with con dition s attach ed for edu cation al ach ievem en t, im m u n ization , an d del ayed m ar r iage for gir l s. H owever , th er e was no discer n abl e im pact of th e pr ogr am an d qu al itative in ter views attr ibu ted th is to a l ack of awar en ess as wel l as con tin u ed par en tal per ception s of gir l s as l iabil ities. In fact, th er e is in cr eased r ecogn ition th at m ain str eam econ om ics? focu s on qu an titative data n eeds to be tem per ed with qu al itative m eth ods if we ar e to tr u l y gr asp th e factor s dr ivin g gen der -based cl eavages in ou tcom es.

H er e, in ter views r eveal th e n eed to in cor por ate bu il din g of soft sk il l s aim ed at ch an gin g n or m s, co-optin g l ocal l eader s to gen er ate awar en ess, an d in tr odu cin g com m u n ity-r el evan t r ol e m odel s to sh ift Th e fin al step th en is to per ception s in addition eval u ate in ter ven tion s to in fr astr u ctu r e an d to see th e exten t to in com e-based wh ich m easu r es h ave

in ter ven tion s. In deed, th e biggest su ccess stor ies h ave com e fr om pr ogr am s th at r ecogn ize m acr o an d m icr o l evel con str ain ts wh il e al so wor k in g to ch an ge n or m s an d tr adition al gen der ed r ol es.

Dr . H a di a M a ji d i s Assi st a nt Pr ofessor Econom i cs a nd Di r ect or Sa i da Wa heed Gender I ni t i a t i ve, LUM S, Pa ki st a n.

Girl s Right to Educationin Devel opingCountries ByDr SameenZafar

W ith a m ar k ed focu s on pr ovidin g good qu al ity edu cation acr oss th e wor l d, it is n ecessar y to en su r e edu cation for al l , r egar dl ess of age, gen der , r ace, an d eth n icity. Un for tu n atel y, m an y you n g gir l s in devel opin g cou n tr ies ar e u n abl e to r eal ize th eir fu l l poten tial sin ce th ey ar e u n abl e to get an edu cation du e to n u m er ou s factor s.W ith m en con sider ed to be th e m ain br eadwin n er s in m ost societies in th e devel opin g wor l d an d l im ited r esou r ces of peopl e bel on gin g to poor fam il ies, especial l y in r u r al ar eas, th e gir l s ar e u su al l y n egl ected in ter m s of pr ovision of edu cation al oppor tu n ities wh il e boys m ay be favou r ed. Su ch gen der dispar ities in edu cation tr an sl ate in to fewer an d fewer fem al es en ter in g th e wor k for ce in th e devel opin g wor l d. A l ook at th e edu cation statistics r eveal s th e gr avity of th e situ ation .

Acr oss th e gl obe, accor din g to UNICEF, 132

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Strongpol itical wil l and commitment bythe l eadershipof the devel opingnations is of utmost necessitytoprovide educationtogirl s.

" m il l ion gir l s ar e ou t of sch ool .

Th is com pr ises of 34.3 m il l ion gir l s of pr im ar y sch ool age, 30 m il l ion gir l s of l ower -secon dar y sch ool age, an d appr oxim atel y 67.4 m il l ion gir l s of u pper -secon dar y sch ool age.

Accor din g to UNESCO, on e of ou t ever y fou r ch il dr en wil l n ever set foot in a sch ool in Sou th Asia an d in su b Sah ar an Afr ica on e ou t of ever y five ch il dr en wil l n ever set foot in a sch ool . Pr im ar y sch ool -aged gir l s ar e disadvan taged in al l r egion s, with th e exception of Latin Am er ican devel opin g cou n tr ies. Th ese figu r es r aise h u ge con cer n s for th e pol icym ak er s. Var iou s factor s su ch as pover ty, cu l tu r al r eason s, u n avail abil ity of sch ool s in a secu r e en vir on m en t or gen der discr im in ation l ead to su ch edu cation al ou tcom es for you n g gir l s.

Th e con sequ en ces of bein g den ied an edu cation in cl u de l ower fem al e par ticipation in th e wor k for ce, n ot bein g abl e to pr ovide a good qu al ity of edu cation for th eir ch il dr en an d a gen er al l ower qu al ity of l ife for th em sel ves.

Th er e ar e var iou s pol icy m easu r es wh ich m ay be in tr odu ced an d l egisl ated th at en cou r age edu cation al

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ou tcom es for gir l s an d th er eby r edu cin g th e gen der dispar ities th at exist in edu cation . Th ese m easu r es can al soim pr ove wom en ?s par ticipation in em pl oym en t in th e devel opin g wor l d as wel l as pr ovidin g addition al ben efits to wom en . ¡Str on g pol itical wil l an d com m itm en t by th e l eader sh ip of th e devel opin g n ation s is of u tm ost n ecessity to pr ovide edu cation to gir l s. In addition , al l ocation of su bstan tial fu n ds to im pr ove gir l s? sch ool in g ou tcom es is u r gen tl y r equ ir ed. Edu cation al aid fr om th e devel oped to th e devel opin g wor l d wil l al so be essen tial in th is r egar d, sin ce in var iou s devel opin g cou n tr ies th e cu r r en t pu bl ic spen din g on edu cation is al m ost n egl igen t. ¡It is im per ative th atth e pu bl ic an d pr ivate sector s wor k togeth er to en su r e th at sch ool s ar e safe an d secu r e l ear n in g en vir on m en ts for gir l s. Pu bl ic sch ool s n eed to be establ ish ed in al l vil l ages an d r u r al ar eas so th at gir l s can easil y access edu cation at n o/ l ow fees, so th at edu cation becom es affor dabl e for al l str ata of society. ¡Teach er tr ain in g pr ogr am m es ar e essen tial to en su r e qu al ity edu cation for th e stu den ts. In societies wh er e peopl e pr efer th eir dau gh ter s to stu dy fr om fem al e teach er s, it becom es equ al l y im por tan t for th e gover n m en t to

tr ain an d pr ovide fem al e teach er s. In addition , th er e is a n eed to al so tr ain edu cation adm in istr ator s to be sen sitive to gen der issu es in edu cation al in stitu tion s an d to h ir e m or e fem al e adm in istr ative officer s in sch ool s. ¡It is im por tan t to str eam l in e th e activities of n on -gover n m en tal or gan ization s (NGOs) wor k in g towar ds edu cation in devel opin g cou n tr ies. Th e NGOs, especial l y th e in ter n ation al NGOs n eed to be tak en on boar d to dem ar cate a str ategy for pr ovidin g u n ifor m edu cation al stan dar ds in devel opin g cou n tr ies an d to be cu l tu r al l y sen sitive wh en it com es to pr ovidin g edu cation , especial l y for fem al es.

cou n tr ies ar e su bject to abu se in th eir edu cation al in stitu tion s, wh ich m ak es th eir par en ts even m or e h esitan t to sen d th eir dau gh ter s to sch ool al on e. To over com e th is m ajor pr obl em , it is essen tial th at th e gover n m en ts h ave cer tain ch eck s an d bal an ces in pl ace in th eir r espective cou n tr ies to en su r e th e safety of gir l s an d toim pl em en t str in gen t l aws th at h ol d per petr ator s to accou n t.

En for cin g l aws th at ar e design ed to pr otect th e r igh ts of gir l s l ead to safer com m u n ities.

Th er efor e, by focu sin g on gir l s edu cation is of str ategic val u e for devel opin g cou n tr ies an d sh ou l d r em ain a top pr ior ity of th eir gover n m en ts.

In con cl u sion , th e ben efits of edu catin g gir l s ar e n ot ju st r estr icted to th em sel ves bu t accu m u l ate in ter m s of better edu cation of th eir ch il dr en as wel l as over al l ben efits for th e society at l ar ge.Th er efor e, ¡M an y you n g gir l s in edu catin g gir l s is of val u e for som e devel opin g str ategic ¡To en cou r age par en ts, especial l y in r u r al ar eas to sen d th eir dau gh ter s to sch ool , con dition al cash tr an sfer s an d sch ol ar sh ips m ay be pr ovided by th e gover n m en t to pr ovide in cen tives to par en ts.

devel opin g cou n tr ies an d sh ou l d r em ain a top pr ior ity of th eir gover n m en ts.

Dr Sa m een i s Assi st a nt Pr ofessor of Econom i cs, Sulem a n Da wood School of Busi ness (SDSB), La hor e Uni ver si t y of M a na gem ent Sci ences (LUM S), Pa ki st a n.

ADDRESSINGTHEGAPIN FEMALEENTERPRENEURSHIP ByLindaW il son& SylviaAsare- Ayeh W r itten by Val en tin a Ar aba M on n ie & Syl via Asar e-Ayeh (Gh an a Gir l Gu ides Association ) In an er a wh er e cr eativity is bein g expl or ed an d th e wor l d is l ook in g for var iou s ways to addr ess th e ch al l en ges it faces, En tr epr en eu r sh ip seem s to be th e an swer.

En tr epr en eu r sh ip n ot on l y in vol ves star t-u ps or capital ven tu r es bu t al so sim pl e in n ovation s th at can be u sed to sol ve social pr obl em s th at can cr eate im pact an d m ak e th e wor l d a better pl ace.

En tr epr en eu r s ar e peopl e wh o por tr ay cu r iosity, con fiden ce an d in n ovation to cr eate su stain abl e sol u tion s

th at im pr oves cu r r en tl y exists.

wh at

Resear ch sh ows th at wom en stil l face a l ot of ch al l en ges star tin g an d su ccessfu l l y r u n n in g a bu sin ess. Gl obal l y, th e n u m ber of wom en en tr epr en eu r s is l ower th an th at of m en .

Al th ou gh th er e is an in cr ease in th e n u m ber of fem al e en tr epr en eu r s over th e year s, m or e can be don e to en su r e pr oper r epr esen tation over al l . On e par ticu l ar ar ea of in ter est is th e r ol e of wom en in su ppor tin g an d m en tor in g oth er fem al e en tr epr en eu r s.

Gir l s fr om a ten der age n eed em power m en t to be in th e en tr epr en eu r ial space.

Th is is extr em el y im por tan t as it wil l r edu ce th e l eader sh ip an d wage gap between wom en an d m en an d al so gu ide th em in th eir l on g ter m fin an cial goal s an d car eer ch oices. W h en gir l s an d wom en tak e u p th is space an d pu t in to action th eir ideas for ch an ge, th e society an d wor l d wil l becom e a better pl ace.

Th e r ol e of Gir l Gu idin g an d Gir l Scou tin g is ver y cr u cial in em power in g gir l s in en tr epr en eu r sh ip. Th e essen tial el em en ts in th e gu idin g m eth od en abl e you n g gir l s to gain en tr epr en eu r ial m in dset r igh t fr om th eir for m ative year s.

Th e el em en ts al l ow gir l s to l ear n n ew sk il l s, gain con fiden ce in th eir own abil ities, em br ace ch al l en ges, tak e r isk s, be cu r iou s, col l abor ate with oth er s, sol ve pr obl em s togeth er an d tak e l ead. Th e sk il l s gain ed en abl e th em to see fail u r es as oppor tu n ities to tr y again r ath er th an givin g up an d th r owin g in th e towel .

A r ecen t stu dy h igh l igh ted th at despite m or e gir l s h avin g in ter est in3 en tr epr en eu r sh ip; th e n u m ber of fem al e en tr epr en eu r s is stil l l ow. Th is is

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Theessential el ements in the guiding method enabl e young girl s to gain entrepreneurial mindset right from their formativeyears.

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attr ibu ted to differ en t bar r ier s th at h ave l ed to l im ited access to in for m ation on star tin g a bu sin ess, fin an cial capital an d gen der ster eotypes th at depict en tr epr en eu r s as m ostl y m en . Th ese bar r ier s h ave deter r ed gir l s in expl or in g th e space an d affected th eir con fiden ce in goin g for wh at th ey wan t.

Th e 2020 In ter n ation al Day of th e Gir l th em e, ?M y voice, Ou r Equ al Fu tu r e? is a r al l yin g cal l th at h igh l igh ts th e fact th at gir l s n eed addition al su ppor t an d en cou r agem en t in th e en tr epr en eu r sh ip space.

Th ou gh th e Gh an a Gir l Gu ides Association h as cr eated a week l y m en tor sh ip session for gir l s an d you n g wom en to be tr ain ed, th er e n eeds to be m or e

oppor tu n ities for gir l s to l ear n , n etwor k , get car eer gu idan ce an d on e on on e m en tor in g session s with r ol e m odel s. Th is wil l en abl e th e th em becom e wel l r ou n ded in dividu al s by tr an sfor m in g th eir m in dsets an d equ ippin g th em with pr obl em sol vin g tool s th at wil l h el p in br eak in g th e bar r ier s an d obstacl es th er eby r eal izin g gen der par ity in en tr epr en eu r sh ip.

Girl Guides beingtaught various skil l s toempower themintheir future career/ business paths

YESS Par ticipan ts fr om Gh an a at tr ain in g in M u n yon yo ? Ugan da. Fr om l eft: Lin da Am oak o, Val en tin a Ar aba M on n ie, Lin da W il son

GHANAGIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATIONSUPPORTING TOACHIEVEANEQUAL W ORLDONEGIRL ATATIME W ith a m ission to en abl e gir l s an d you n g wom en to devel op to th eir fu l l est poten tial s as r espon sibl e citizen s of th e wor l d, th e Gh an a Gir l Gu ides Association , GGGA, h as for th e past n in ety-n in e (99) year s, h as been tr an sfor m in g th e l ives of gir l s an d you n g wom en acr oss th e cou n tr y th r ou gh in n ovative n on -for m al edu cation al pr ogr am s, l eader sh ip devel opm en t, advocacy wor k an d com m u n ity action . GGGA is a fu l l m em ber of th e W or l d Association of Gir l Gu ides an d Gir l Scou ts (W AGGGS) th e wor l d?s l ar gest

vol u n tar y m ovem en t for gir l s an d you n g wom en .

Cu r r en tl y, th e Gh an a Gir l Gu ides Association r epr esen ts over 30,000 gir l s an d you n g wom en acr oss Gh an a r egar dl ess of r el igion , eth n ic gr ou p, back gr ou n d or ch al l en ge.

r eal izin g fu tu r e.

an

in cl u sive m on th s to advocate for an d tak e action on gl obal issu es th at affect For th e fir st tim e th is gir l s com pr isin g gen der year , th e Gh an a Gir l equ al ity, cl im ate ch an ge Gu ides Association an d su stain abl e par ticipated in an com m u n ity in ter n ation al exch an ge devel opm en t an d oth er pr ogr am ter m ed YESS SDGs (Su stain abl e (You th Exch an ge Sou th Devel opm en t Goal s). to Sou th ). Th is pr ogr am Th is year 3 you n g H avin g a vision th at al l is fu n ded by th e wom en wer e depl oyed gir l s an d you n g wom en Nor wegian Agen cy for to Rwan da, Ugan da an d ar e val u ed an d tak e Exch an ge Cooper ation M adagascar , wh il st action to ch an ge th e (NOREC). Th e YESS Gh an a h osted 4 oth er s wor l d th r ou gh ou r Gir l s M ovem en t du bbed fr om Rwan da, Ugan da, pr ogr am s an d ?a jou r n ey of a l ifetim e?

M adagascar an d in itiatives, we in stil l is a col l abor ation Tan zan ia. sel f-con fiden ce an d between W AGGGS an d bu il d sel f-esteem NOREC wh er e you n g Ear l ier th is year , th e r esu l tin g in positive wom en aged 18 to 25 wor l d was h it with th e ch an ges in th eir l ives, year s ar e facil itated to n ovel cor on avir u s th eir com m u n ities an d tr avel to an oth er wh ich ch an ged ou r ways th e wor l d as a wh ol e cou n tr y an d ar e given a of l ivin g. So th e YESS th er eby h el pin g in pl atfor m for six (6) Gir l s 2020 con tr ibu ted

PIC 2YESS Par ticipan ts fr om Left : Tan zan ia ? Joyce Joh n Sebach u zi; Ugan da - ; Rwan da - ; M adagascar -don atin g n ose m ask s du r in g th e peak of th e COVID 19 pan dem ic in Gh an a to a vu l n er abl e com m u n ity gr ou p

to th e figh t again st COVID-19 by r aisin g awar en ess u sin g th e var iou s social m edia pl atfor m s an d al so design ed a COVID-19 su r vival str ategies h an dbook to be u sed by over 10 m il l ion gir l s an d you n g wom en acr oss th e gl obe.

Th is h an dbook , wh ich is fou n d on th e W AGGGS website, is avail abl e in 4 l an gu ages; En gl ish , Fr en ch , Span ish an d Ar abic an d h igh l igh ts th e im por tan ce of stayin g safe by tak in g pr ecau tion s, bein g sm ar t by stayin g in for m ed an d bein g k in d by su ppor tin g each oth er.

W ith 11th October bein g In ter n ation al Day of th e Gir l , we cel ebr ate with ou r # Team Gir l cam paign in l in e with th e year ?s th em e. For th e year 2020 u n der UNICEF?s th em e ?M y Voice, Ou r Equ al fu tu r e? we h ave a n ew focu s wh ich is th e # H ear M eNow cam paign . Th is is to en cou r age gir l s an d

you n g wom en ar ou n d th e wor l d to voice th eir opin ion s, give l eader s tool s to l isten an d su ppor t th e gir l to tak e action on cau ses th ey car e abou t an d th er eby Real izin g an In cl u sive Fu tu r e an d m ak in g a better wor l d.

Wr i t t en by Li nda Wi lson & Sylvi a Asa r e-Ayeh

UNTOLD STORIES

Fem al e gen ital m u til ation , ear l y m ar r iages, l ack of san itar y towel s an d u n pl an n ed pr egn an cies ar e som e of th e r eason s th at h ave m ade it im possibl e for gir l s to atten d sch ool an d discou r agin g gir l s to atten d sch ool or dr op ou t en tir el y.. Sin ce tim e im m em or ial , gir l s h ave h ad to figh t for th eir spaces in ter m s of edu cation , l eader sh ip position s an d as h u m an bein gs in society. Th r ee m on th s ago, I cam e acr oss a book cal l ed Stor y Zetu abou tth e l ived r eal ity of gir l s in th e m aasai com m u n ity by Naya Ken ya. Th e an th ol ogy was abou t gir l s wh o h ad to r u n away fr om th eir h om es in qu est of edu cation , escapin g fem al e gen ital m u til ation an d savin g th em sel ves fr om th e h or r or s ear l y m ar r iages.

On e of th e stor ies th at tou ch ed m e was th e stor y of Abigail Ter an oi an 11 year ol d gir l wh o bor n ou t of a pol ygam ou s m ar r iage was for ced to u n der go th e gen ital cu t wh en sh e was ju st 9 year s ol d. After Abigael tu r n ed 10, in stead of r u n n in g ar ou n d an d pl ayin g l ik e oth er k ids of h er age,sh e was for cefu l l y m ar r ied off to an ol der m an , sin ce sh e was you n g, ju st a ch il d wh o doesn ?t u n der stan d th e con stitu tes of m ar r iage sh e r an away fr om h er m atr im on ial h om e on l y to en d u p beaten by h er par en ts wh o l ater r etu r n ed h er to h er h u sban d becau se th ey did n ot wan t to r etu r n th e br ide pr ice paid in for m of cows. After r u n n in g away yet again for a th ir d tim e you n g Abigael was sen t away fr om h er h u sban d?s h om e becau se of th e sh am e sh e?d appar en tl y br ou gh t h im , an ger ed by th e tu r n of even ts h er par en ts m ar r ied h er off to an oth er m an so th ey cou l d r epay th e fir st m an . In th is n ew h om e Abigael wen t th r ou gh al l m an n er of tor tu r e an d abu se, sh e was over wor k ed an d h ad to fetch water fr om a str eam th at was far an d h ad to go h er d goats wh il e h er peer s wer e at sch ool . Fr u str ated by wh at sh e was goin g th r ou gh Abigael r an away an d en ded u p at Nan in g?oi Gir l s Rescu e an d boar din g sch ool wh er e sh e was r eh abil itated, sch ool s an d h opes to becom e a l awyer wh en sh e gr ows u p so th at sh e can figh t for th e r igh ts of oth er gir l s goin g th r ou gh wh at sh e wen t th r ou gh .

Lik e Abigael , th is is th e stor y of m il l ion s ofth er gir l s wh ose voices h ave n ot yet been h ear d an d th eir stor ies u n tol d. As th e In ter n ation al day of th e gir l ch il d appr oach es I can n ot stop th in k in g abou t th e Beijin g Decl ar ation an d Pl atfor m for Action of 1995. Th e decl ar ation aim ed to advan ce th e goal s of equ al ity, devel opm en t an d peace for al l gir l s an d wom en ever ywh er e in th e in ter ests of al l h u m an ity wh il e ack n owl edgin g voices of al l wom en ever ywh er e. Al m ost 25 year s l ater it is eviden t th at al th ou gh a l ot h as been don e in en su r in g adequ ate pr om otion an d pr otection of th e h u m an r igh ts especial l y th ose r evol vin g ar ou n d gir l s th er e is stil l a l ot to be don e.

It h as becom e especial l y difficu l t for gir l s al l over th e wor l d du e to th e em er gen ce of th e COVID-19 pan dem ic to l ive th eir n or m al l ives as sch ool s wer e cl osed in defin itel y, wh ich for ced th em to stay at h om e. In Ken ya?s M ach ak os Cou n ty r ou gh l y 3000 gir l s h ad been im pr egn ated between th e m on th of M ar ch an d Ju n e. M ost of th ese gir l s becam e pr egn an t du e to r ape, oth er s wer e l u r ed by l ocal gu ys so th at th ey cou l d affor d san itar y towel s wh il e oth er s h ad to get m ar r ied to ease bu r den fr om th eir fam il ies. Th is is th e star k r eal ity for m an y gir l s an d u n for tu n atel y h as n ot on l y affected gir l s fr om M ach ak os cou n ty bu t oth er ar eas as wel l . You n g gir l s fr om m ar gin al ized ar eas h ave been su bjected to fem al e gen ital m u til ation an d ear l y m ar r iages. Th ose m ar r ied off h ave gon e th r ou gh dom estic viol en ce fr om th eir abu sive h u sban ds, wh il e a l ar ger per cen tage h ave con tr acted AIDS an d oth er STDS with n o access to con tr aception edu cation . Th e pan dem ic especial l y m ade it difficu l t for th e social wor k er s to u n der tak e in th eir wor k effectivel y becau se of th e l ock down an d r estr iction s in m ovem en t th at h ad been pu t in pl ace. As sch ool s ar e al m ost r eopen in g sin ce th e cu r ve h as begu n to fl atten , so m an y gir l s wil l discon tin u e th eir edu cation as th ey h ave becom e ch il dr en with ch il dr en an d th eir dr eam s sh atter ed. It is a sadden in g situ ation becau se m ost of th em ar e fr om poor fam il ies an d th er efor e can n ot affor d tak in g car e of th eir ch il dr en wh il st con tu in in g th eir edu cation .

Th is is devastatin g becau se it is cl ear th at m ost wil l be absor bed in to abu sive m ar r iages or cr im e ju st to su ppor t th eir you n g fam il ies.

As October 11 is design ated as th e In ter n ation al Day of th e Gir l Ch il d to cel ebr ate th e h u r dl es th at gir l s an d wom en h ave sin ce over com e, it is m y per son al wish an d pr ayer to see m or e awar en ess bein g don e in r u r al ar eas on th e im por tan ce of edu catin g gir l s. I h ope for a day wh en I wil l see ch il d m oth er s bein g en cou r aged to go back to sch ool becau se as Lawr en ce Su m m er s. stated ?In vestm en t in gir l ?s edu cation m ay wel l be th e h igh est r etu r n in vestm en t avail abl e in th e devel opin g wor l d?. Liter acy is on e of th e k eys to wom en ?s fu l l par ticipation in decision m ak in g an d im pr ovin g th e wel l bein g of fam il ies. Pr ovidin g edu cation for ou r gir l s can r esu l t in an in cr ease in sel f-esteem th u s pr ovidin g str en gth to r esist an d over com e viol en ce, abu se an d coer cion .

I h ope to cel ebr ate days wh er e we as Afr ica wou l d h ave been abl e to en d th e pr actice of , ear l y ch il d m ar r iages, an d en d m en str u al pover ty. I h ope for a day wh er e I wil l see ch il d tr affick in g en d an d gir l ch il d edu cation pr ovided for th e gir l s fr om Kar am oja ar eas. I h ope for a day I wil l see m or e wom en tak in g active r ol es in par l iam en t an d m or e gir l s en cou r aged to pu r su e cou r ses th at ar e con sider ed m an l y. I h ope for a day I wil l see m or e gir l s becom in g br ave, bol d, str on g, k in d, an d u n stoppabl e wh en figh tin g for th eir r igh ts an d m or e spaces. A day wh en m ost gir l s can m ak e in for m ed decision s abou t th eir l ives is on e I h ope for.

H appy I nter national Day of the Gir l Child.

Joyce K a r a nja .

Wr i t er , St udent .

Ensuri ng an I ncl usi v e Future: HealthAdvocacyand ActionbytheGirl s, for theGirl s 8

By Sar a Raza, Soh a Abbas, Al izeh Abbas

Resear ch h as sh own th at edu cated wom en ar e m or e l ik el y to vaccin ate th eir ch il dr en . Zeb et al . n oted th at a m oth er ?s l iter acy statu s h as a dir ect effect on a ch il d?s per son al h ygien e,n u tr ition al an d vaccin ation statu s, an d Iftik h ar an d col l eagu es r epor ted a sign ifican t association between m ater n al edu cation an d n u tr ition al statu s of ch il dr en . Th isdata istestam en t to th e im por tan ce of edu cation an d h eal th l iter acy am on g gir l s, becau se th ese wom en wer e al so you n g gir l s on ce.

Gl obal l y, dispar ities in edu cation al oppor tu n ities, access to h eal th car e, h ou seh ol d food al l ocation , an d au ton om y in day-to-day l ife between boys an d gir l s con tin u e to exist.

H owever , it is per tin en t to expl or e h ow r esil ien ce an d deter m in ation in adol escen t gir l s h ave sh aped th e com in g of age of so m an y ar ou n d th e wor l d. Fr om bir th to ear l y ch il dh ood,

gir l s h ave str ived an d th r ived th r ou gh h eal th an d socio-econ om ic cr ises, especial l y in th e m ost r esou r ce-l im ited r egion s of th e wor l d. You n g gir l s fr om r esou r ce-l im ited r egion s in Pak istan con tin u e to face in su r m ou n tabl e bar r ier s in br in gin g positive ch an ge with in th eir society an d h ave been for cibl y pr even ted fr om tak in g n ecessar y action s th at can sign ifican tl y im pr ove th eir l ivin g con dition s. A stu dy

by Batr a an d col l eagu es fr om Pak istan sh owed th at asign ifican tl y h igh er n u m ber of fem al e ch il dr en com par ed to m al e ch il dr en scr een ed for Tu ber cu l osis (TB) wer e fou n d to be positive for th e disease (p-val u e <0.01).

In a separ ate stu dy by Nu r u ddin et al ., th e au th or s n oted th at m or tal ity r ates wer e h igh er am on g gir l s com par ed with boys in th e post-n eon atal an d ear l y ch il dh ood per iods, an d h ospital ization for an il l n ess was sign ifican tl y l ower in th e absen ce of a vil l age gir l s? sch ool .

Fu r th er m or e, Ar sen au l t

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Given the vul nerabil ity of girl s to health- rel ated concerns, it is pertinent to observe and discuss the rel ationship between education andhealthl iteracy.

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an d col l eagu es r epor ted th at Pak istan was am on g th e six cou n tr ies wh ich h ad statistical l y sign ifican t differ en ces in th e cover age of th e th ir d dose of Diph th er ia-Tetan u s-Per tu ssis-con tain in g (DTP-3) vaccin e between boys an d gir l s.

Given th e vu l n er abil ity of gir l s to h eal th -r el ated con cer n s, it is per tin en t to obser ve an d discu ss th e r el ation sh ip between edu cation an d h eal th l iter acy.

Accor din g to Pak istan Edu cation Statistics 2016-2017, five m il l ion ch il dr en wer e ou t of sch ool , ou t of wh ich 60 per cen t wer e gir l s. Adol escen t gir l s h ave been ou t-of-sch ool du e to a n u m ber of r eason s, bu t th e dr astic in cr ease in dr opou t r ates after th e pr im ar y l evel am on g th e 51 per cen t gir l s ou t of th e 17.7 m il l ion adol escen ts is wh at n eeds r edr essal in Pak istan .For in stan ce, in r u r al Sin dh al on e, 65% ch il dr en of th e poor est fam il ies h ave n ever h ad th e oppor tu n ity to atten d sch ool . Addition al l y, in m an y r esou r ce-poor r egion s of Pak istan , dism al l ivin g con dition s an d dwin dl in g access to adequ ate n u tr ition al su ppor t with in cr easin g age can m ak e gir l s in cr easin gl y vu l n er abl e to fal l in g il l with ou t th e pr om ise of r eceivin g th e h igh qu al ity an d tim el y car e th at th ey deser ve.

Con sequ en tl y, l im ited ou tdoor activity an d l ow l ik el ih ood of visitin g a h eal th car e facil ity can al so m ak e gir l s?par ticipation in h eal th scr een in g an d r eceipt of an accu r ate diagn osis l ow. Th ese bar r ier s h igh l igh t th e im por tan ce of activel y en gagin g gir l s in advocacy effor ts, l eader sh ip activities, an d sk il l devel opm en t as ear l y as possibl e.

Sever al or gan ization s an d gr ou ps in Pak istan h ave been l eadin g effor ts an d in itiatives th at focu s on adol escen t gir l s? edu cation an d awar en ess th r ou gh tr ain in g an d m en tor sh ip pr ogr am m es. Th ese pr ogr am m es h ave pr ovided th ou san ds of gir l s with th e oppor tu n ity to cr eate h eal th awar en ess in th eir com m u n ities an d

n eigh bou r h oods.On e su ch pr ogr am m e is th e Kir an Sitar a in itiative, an Adol escen t H eal th an d Leader sh ip pr ogr am . Th is pr ogr am m e is l ed by In ter active Resear ch & Devel opm en t (IRD), a gl obal h eal th del iver y an d r esear ch or gan ization , wh ich aim s to bu il d a ?n etwor k of tr ain ed an d active adol escen t sch ool goin g gir l s? wh o can access an d edu cate th e wom en l ivin g in l ow-in com e com m u n ities an d pr om ote beh aviou r al ch an ge for adoptin g h eal th ier l ifestyl es.?Ab M er i Baar i H ai!? (?N ow it is m y tur n!?) was an even t h osted by th e Kir an Sitar a pr ogr am m e on 21st Novem ber 2019, wh ich gath er ed 10,000 teen age gir l s in Kar ach i, Pak istan , as agen ts of ch an ge an d am bassador s of im m u n ization for a com m on , col l ective goal of becom in g com m u n ity l eader s wh o equ ip th em sel ves with sk il l s to fu r th er in for m an d edu cate oth er s abou t basic h eal th dir ectives. By edu catin g you n g gir l s, al so k n own as ?Kir an Sitar as? u n der th is pr ogr am m e, th e in itiative activel y aim s to fu r th er in fl u en ce oth er m em ber s l ivin g in th ese com m u n ities to pr om ote th e ach ievem en t of h eal th car e del iver y-r el ated goal s, in cl u din g scr een in g for tu ber cu l osis an d better im m u n ization r ates. Un der th e Kir an Sitar a in itiative, th e Diya App was al so l au n ch ed wh ich is a m u l ti-pu r pose, social -edu cation al h ybr id tool for adol escen t gir l s to activel y par ticipate in com m u n ity en gagem en t an d in ter act with oth er you n g gir l s.Th e Kir an Sitar a com m u n ity h as given a voice to m an y you n g gir l s wh o h ave n ow been abl e to ch an n el th eir ideas an d en er gy towar ds im pr ovin g th eir com m u n ity?s h eal th . In addition , th e Kir an Sitar a pr ogr am m e h as th e u n iqu e abil ity to r each peopl e in tim es of n eed, wh o wou l d oth er wise be victim s of u n tim el y an d u n expected m or bidity an d m or tal ity.

Over th e past few year s, th e Kir an Sitar as h ave em br aced an d pu t to action th eir l eader sh ip abil ities, con fiden ce an d per sever an ce to tak e own er sh ip of th e h eal th -r el ated pr ogr am m es th ey h ave been br ou gh t togeth er for an d h ave acted as l eader s, ch am pion s an d h er oes for th eir com m u n ities an d Pak istan as a wh ol e. In th e u pcom in g gen er ation s, we can h ope for m an y m or e Kir an Sitar as wh o can tak e ch ar ge of th e cau se beh in d h eal th l iter acy an d sh ow by exam pl e wh at th e m ean in g of gir l power is. It is tr u e wh at th ey say th at ?th e fu tu r e is fem al e.?

I m age Cou r t esy : h ttp:/ / ir d.gl obal h ttps:/ / www.gavi.or g

Sa r a Ra za i s a la wyer ba sed i n K a r a chi . She holds a BA-LL.B. (H onour s) fr om t he La hor e Uni ver si t y of M a na gem ent Sci ences. She i s a st r ong a dvoca t e of wom en em power m ent a nd gender equa li t y. She i s i nt er est ed i n gender just i ce a nd wom en?s r i ght s.

Soha Abba s i s a pr e-m ed st udent who i s pa ssi ona t e a bout globa l hea lt h a nd chi ld hea lt h. She i s i nt er est ed i n phot ogr a phy a nd gr a phi c desi gni ng.

Ali zeh Abba s i s a m edi ca l doct or fr om K a r a chi .

She wor ks a s a Globa l Sur ger y Resea r ch Associ a t e a nd i s pa ssi ona t e a bout gender equi t y i n globa l hea lt h.

EMPOWERING W OMEN WITH21ST CENTURY SKILLS byAshnaMehmood In th e 21st cen tu r y, peopl e m u st h ave in -depth k n owl edge of tech n ol ogy, n ot on l y in ter m s of u sage bu t al so to m ol d tech n ol ogy with th eir tech n ical sk il l s to in n ovate. Th ewor l d's tech gian ts ar e n ow focu sin g on devel opin g cr eator tool s for today?s you th . Facebook devel oped th e cr eator tool ,React, th at en abl es peopl e to con ver t th eir ideas in to pr odu cts. Googl e h as l au n ch edFl u tter to assist peopl e with th eir cr eativity. Th is h as en abl ed a l ot of sm al l -scal e star tu ps an d h as ben efited devel opin g n ation s by boostin g th eir econ om ies.

Th e 21st cen tu r y is th e er a of tech n ol ogy an d th er efor e l ack of IT k n owl edge can be a bar r ier to em pl oym en t.

Th at said, th is cen tu r y h as al so in tr odu ced a l ot of com petition with in th e ol der as wel l as th e you n ger gen er ation .

To com pete in th is age of in for m ation , peopl e n eed to th in k deepl y abou t issu es, sol ve pr obl em s th r ou gh cr itical th in k in g, wor k in team s, com m u n icate effectivel y on n u m er ou s pl atfor m s, focu s on cr eativity, k eep u p to date abou t ever -ch an gin g tech n ol ogy, an d deal with a fl ood of

in for m ation .

ever yon e.

Th e r apidl y evol vin g wor l d dem an ds th at peopl e in n ovate an d ar e r eady to tak e th e in itiative wh en n eeded to pr odu ce som eth in g n ew. Th e ?Fou r Cs? of 21st Cen tu r y l ear n in g ar e Cr itical l ear n in g, Com m u n ication , Col l abor ation , an d Cr eativity. Th ese 4 Cs ar e th e pr im ar y pr in cipl es beh in d th e digital l iter acy r equ ir em en ts for

Th e r epor t pu bl ish ed by Th e Bu r eau of Labor Statistics states th at th er e wil l be 1.4 m il l ion jobs in th e fiel d of com pu ter scien ce by 2020, h owever , on l y 400,000 com pu ter scien ce gr adu ates wil l h ave th e sk il l s to appl y for th e jobs.

Th ese figu r es ar e appal l in g as m ost gr adu ates won ?t be el igibl e to appl y du e

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to a l ack of n ecessar y sk il l s. Un for tu n atel y, wom en ar e cu r r en tl y on th e path to h ol d ju st 3% of th e jobs du e to gen der dispar ity.

M or eover , th e New Yor k Tim es r epor ts th at l ow-sk il l ed wor k er s ar e bein g l aid off as th e em pl oyees l ack th e sk il l s th at em pl oyer s wan t.

Th e wor l d is becom in g gl obal l y an d digital l y in ter con n ected wh ich m ean s th at we m u st pr epar e stu den ts fr om an ear l y age to l ear n n ew sk il l s to su r vive in th e wor l d of in for m ation tech n ol ogy. Stu den ts sh ou l d be pr ovided with oppor tu n ities

th at wil l en abl e th em to devel op sk il l s th at wil l teach th em to th in k cr itical l y, an al yze data, an d wor k in team s. Sch ool s sh ou l d en cou r age th e pr om otion of STEM sk il l s th at ar e essen tial to su ccess in today?s wor l d.

W h er e ar e w om en i n t h i s equ at i on ?

Th e m ain pr ior ity of differ en t cou n tr ies sh ou l d be to decr ease th e edu cation gap between m en an d wom en an d cr eate oppor tu n ities for wom en th r ou gh in n ovative ways wh ich wil l l ead to em pl oym en t or sel f-em pl oym en t oppor tu n ities.

Th e

It is essential for women to increase their digital knowledge if they wish to have opportunities in the 21st century.

wom en ?s l iter acy r ate is 51.8% in Pak istan wh er e on l y 24% of th em ar e em pl oyed wh er e th ey ear n 34% l ess th an m en .

M or eover , th er e ar e socio-cu l tu r al h u r dl es for wom en ?s edu cation in th e cou n tr y wh er e th ey ar e m ostl y devoid of oppor tu n ities to pol ish th eir sk il l s an d h ave l im ited ch oices for wor k . Th is m ean s th e ch an ces of wom en or you n g gir l s bein g em pl oyed in a STEM depar tm en t ar e fu r th er l im ited du e to a l ack of n ecessar y sk il l s an d edu cation .

Codin g is con sider ed th e u l tim ate 21st cen tu r y sk il l . Th e

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or gan isation CodeGir l s star ted boot cam ps in Kar ach i to em power th e wom en of Pak istan an d equ ip th em with 21st cen tu r y sk il l s in cl u din g codin g, IT an d bu sin ess sk il l s. Th e pr ogr am focu ses on wom en an d gir l s aged 15-30.Th e par ticipan ts ar e tr ain ed by pr ofession al s in th e r el evan t fiel d an d th e focu s is on equ ippin g th em with pr actical sk il l s.

Th e m en tor s pl ace em ph asis on con stan t l ear n in g becau se it is a m u st for per son al an d pr ofession al gr owth

in l ife. A n otabl e en tity is W om en In Tech Pk wh ich is a pl atfor m th at seek s to pr ovide wom en ?s r epr esen tation in tech n ol ogy an d su ppor t an d en cou r age th e in cl u sion of wom en in tech n ol ogy.

M or eover , n ew em pl oym en t an d en tr epr en eu r sh ip oppor tu n ities can be gen er ated th r ou gh digital pl atfor m s th at offer fl exibil ity an d can easil y be pu r sed with a l ack of ph ysical m obil ity an d dom estic com m itm en ts.

Despite th e econ om ic oppor tu n ities, wom en con stitu te ar ou n d 14% of total en tr epr en eu r s an d th e aver age em pl oym en t in en ter pr ises own ed by wom en is 1.67%.

Gover n m en ts of var iou s n ation s sh ou l d pr om ote an d en cou r age wom en en tr epr en eu r s an d pr ovide econ om ic pack ages th at wil l facil itate th eir pr ogr ess.

It is essen tial for wom en to in cr ease th eir digital k n owl edge if th ey wish to h ave oppor tu n ities in th e 21st cen tu r y. Th er e ar e var iou s sites on l in e th at ar e offer in g on l in e cou r ses th at ar e fr ee of cost an d you can ear n a cer tificate as wel l . In vest you r fr ee

tim e over th e week en ds to en h an ce th e sk il l s th at wil l h el p advan ce you in you r cu r r en t job. M or eover , ever y wom an sh ou l d acqu ir e fin an cial l iter acy an d be equ ipped with th e sk il l s to k n ow wh er e to in vest th eir m on ey or savin gs.

Th er efor e, we sh ou l d be r eady for an y ch al l en ge in th is r apidl y ch an gin g wor l d. W e sh ou l d n ot dou bt ou r abil ities or be sh y to appl y for th e job we th in k we ar e n ot good en ou gh for. It is ok ay to fail bu t n ot ok ay to give u p.

Ash n a M eh m ood is a stu den t of In ter n ation al Rel ation s at Nation al Defen se Un iver sity,Isl am abad. Sh e h as wor k ed as a r esear ch in ter n at Isl am abad based th in k tan k s; CGSS AND PICSS an d al so r en der s h er ser vices for wr itin g con ten t for star tu ps.

Wh y Do I M entor?

ByAzraMaqsood

W h en you r esear ch or r ead abou t th e wh at-h ow-wh y on em power in g you n g wom en , eith er th ose in th e car eer str eam or sm al l / h om e-based en tr epr en eu r s, th e biggest su ppor t tool s ar e iden tified as m en tor in g an d coach in g. Th ese ar e fol l owed by n etwor k in g an d fin an cial oppor tu n ities.

Ran dom In ter n et sear ch es, digital l ibr ar ies or for m al r esear ch paper s wil l al l val idate m y cl aim h er e.

Gr adu atin g fr om Kar ach i?s top, el ite bu sin ess sch ool , an d expected to join th e cor por ate wor l d, I opted to pu r su e a car eer wh er e I k n ew I cou l d n ot on l y th r ive per son al l y bu t give back to th e you th . I con sciou sl y ch ose to teach an d r esear ch an d m an age h igh er edu cation at a sm al l pr ivate bu sin ess sch ool . An d th is con sciou s m ove set th e wh eel s r ol l in g for m e to im pactin g th e l ives of you n ger peopl e, especial l y wom en .

Teach in g an d r esear ch in g for over 10

year s, m y sociabl e n atu r e h el ped m e devel op a cam ar ader ie an d a bon d with you n ger stu den ts. Fem al e u n der gr adu ate an d gr adu ate stu den ts devel oped a cl oser bon d as I displ ayed m y r ol e of a con fiden t, pr ofession al wom an wh o bal an ced wor k l ife an d fam il y wel l (cou r tesy of m y su ppor tive spou se). Th is en cou r aged th em to r epl icate th e r ol e am icabl y. Th e good r appor t is eviden t in al l m y con tacts l ists an d social m edia fol l ower sh ip, th e m ajor ity bein g fol l ower s fr om m y teach in g days, wh o ar e n ow in m iddl e an d sen ior l evel m an agem en t position s or r u n n in g th eir own su ccessfu l en ter pr ises. M ost of th em con tin u e to r each ou t, for per son al advice on par en tin g or th e n ext car eer m ove.

I ven tu r ed in to th e devel opm en t sector , an d establ ish ed an en tity im pactin g l ow-in com e com m u n ity sch ool ?s you th , between th e ages of 12 ? 24, focu sin g on str u ctu r ed, vol u n teer -l ed tr ain in g in En tr epr en eu r sh ip, Fin an cial Liter acy an d W or k Readin ess. I m ade su r e m y team pick s u p co-edu cation sch ool s an d col l eges, or gir l s? sch ool s an d col l eges an d l ead th em th r ou gh fem al e cor por ate vol u n teer s sin ce th is str ata of th e society n eeded awar en ess of fem al e r ol e m odel s.

M y or gan ization sign ed u p agr eem en ts with NGOs an d tr u sts th at focu sed on wom en em power m en t in itiatives wh il e I con tin u ed to pr ovide m en tor in g an d n etwor k in g oppor tu n ities to th ese you n g wom en .

Th e W FH r ou tin e du r in g th e COVID-19 l ock down per h aps br ou gh t ou t th e best in m e. I h ave been h eadin g oper ation s of Pak istan ?s l ar gest pu bl ic car diac car e facil ity for 5 year s n ow, an d th is did n ot give m e tim e to dedicatedl y m en tor , th at I h ad been m issin g. I h opped on back to r ek in dl e m y r el ation sh ips with on l in e wom en com m u n ities an d offer pr o bon o m en tor in g an d coach in g ser vices, an d to m y pl easan t su r pr ise, al m ost ever ybody r espon ded. An d th is is wh er e a n ew ?m e? was r ein vigor ated, fu el ed u p with m or e passion to give back to th e you n g wom en ?s com m u n ities. I str u ctu r ed an d discipl in ed m ysel f in to givin g 4 h ou r s a week , m axim u m , to m en tor in g an d coach in g an d th is in cl u ded (1) 5, on e-per -week coach in g session s on On l in e M ar k etin g with th e Con n ected W om en ? Pak istan (2) W ebin ar on ?H an dl in g Cu stom er s & Cu stom er Rel ation s th r ou gh Social M edia? with th e Fem pr ow com m u n ity (3) M en tor in g a star tu p, ?ABC for M om s? th r ou gh th e

Stan dar d Ch ar ter ed W om en In Tech n ol ogy in itiative (4) W ebin ar on ?W or k Readin ess Str ategies? with th e W om en in Tech n ol ogy com m u n ity (5) W ebin ar on ?W h o M oved M y Ch eese? with th e W oW -Pk com m u n ity (6) 6, on e-per -week session s on En tr epr en eu r sh ip Essen tial s with th e Fem pr en eu r com m u n ity.

Th e l ist con tin u es even today as I pen down th ese vol u n teer effor ts, an d I sin cer el y l ook for war d to sim il ar en gagem en t with m or e com m u n ities.

So, wh at is in it for m e? On a social fr on t, I get to m ak e fr ien ds. An d th ese you n g fr ien ds ar e gr eat for am pl ifyin g m y or gan ic social m edia r each . I per son al l y l ook at th is as a wh ol e-n in e-yar ds str etch .

W h en m or e you n g wom en fol l ow m y social m edia, th ey sh ou l d be abl e to pick u p m y vol u n teer effor ts, an d a ?fr ee? con ten t devel opm en t m odel , th at I h ope th ey can r epl icate in th eir posts an d feeds.

I al so get to ?give back ? to th e com m u n ity.

If you h ave a gen u in e cau se th at you bel ieve in , an d can m ar k et it au th en tical l y, th er e is n o sh or tage of fin an cial spon sor s or don or s, especial l y in Pak istan . It is per son al vol u n teer in g th at peopl e str u ggl e with , h en ce I ch oose to do so. I al so h ope to aspir e peopl e to pick u p a l ead an d in du l ge in th e pl easu r e of vol u n teer in g as m en tor s an d coach es, an d per son al l y exper ien ce th e satisfaction ou t of th is.

I pr ide m ysel f on bein g a n etwor k er , wh en I m en tor , I al ways fin d peopl e I can pu t th r ou gh to poten tial em pl oyer s an d I m atch -m ak e an d con n ect th ese peopl e so th at both ben efit fr om th e n etwor k in g.

Som e of th ese m en tees h ave al so vol u n teer ed u sin g th eir special ized sk il l s with an NGO I was associated with .

It is al so n on -stop l ear n in g. Ever y m en tee com es in with th eir specific ch al l en ges an d k n owl edge, an d m ostl y it is n eith er a qu ick -fix n or a on e-size-fits-al l m odel . So, I n eed to be on a fr on t foot, ch al l en gin g m ysel f con tin u ou sl y, r esu l tin g in a n ew l ear n in g ever y sin gl e tim e. I devel op m ysel f wh il e devel opin g m y m en tees!

If you h ave n ot don e th is, go on , tr y it.

Th er e is n o gr eater satisfaction th an bein g abl e to give a par t of you to oth er s, you r k n owl edge, you r sk il l s, you r exper ien ces, an d see h ow th ese ?in vestm en ts? gr ow th ese wom en , an d th eir com m u n ities, ar ou n d you .

Recognising & Addr essing SRHR Challenges af fect ing Adolescent s & Yout h Gir ls Dur ing The Pandemic

By L i z Gu an t ai A.I n t r od u ct i on On M ar ch 11, 2020, th e W or l d H eal th Or gan isation (W H O) decl ar ed th at th e vir al disease Covid-19, fir st r epor ted in Novem ber 2019, h ad r each ed th e l evel of a gl obal pan dem ic.

W H O fu r th er cal l ed u pon gover n m en ts to tak e r espon sibil ity for th eir citizen s? h eal th by u n der tak in g u r gen t action to cu r b th e spr ead of th e vir u s.

Gover n m en ts tim el y r espon ded with var iou s m easu r es wh ich in cl u ded stay at h om e r ecom m en dation s, cl osu r e of pu bl ic am en ities, m ovem en t cu r fews, tr avel r estr iction s an d ban of pu bl ic gath er in gs am on g oth er s.Th e COVID-19

pan dem ic h as al r eady h ad a devastatin g im pact on th e wor l d?s h eal th , econ om y an d disr u pted l ivel ih oods.

You n g peopl e con tin u e to be dispr opor tion atel y im pacted by th e con sequ en ces of th is pan dem ic, an d especial l y adol escen t gir l s.

W ith m ajor ity of cou n tr ies cl osin g sch ool s du r in g th e per iod, th e stay at h om e of sch ool goin g gir l s con tin u ed to pose a pr edicam en t in th eir safety an d access to SRH R ser vices as in dicated by m edia an d UN r epor ts. Th is is especial l y wor se for gir l s r esidin g in r u r al an d in for m al settl em en ts in disadvan taged ar eas, wh o wer e al r eady m ar gin al ized fr om access to th e ser vices befor e th e pan dem ic. In or der to en su r e th e ph ysical an d em otion al wel l bein g of Adol escen ts

an d You th Gir l s, it is im por tan t to con sider h ow th eir r igh ts to sexu al an d r epr odu ctive h eal th h ave been dispr opor tion atel y affected.Th er e is n eed to em pl oy m easu r es th at wil l con sider th e specific n eeds for th is gr ou p as th e figh t again st th e pan dem ic tak es m om en tu m .

B.SRH R Ch al l en ges 1.Gen d er based v i ol en ce Acr oss ever y sector , fr om h eal th to secu r ity an d econ om y, th e dispr opor tion ate im pact of Covid-19 on wom en an d gir l s can n ot be u n der pin n ed.

Fol l owin g m edia r epor ts an d pol ice r ecor ds, it is obviou s th at th e pan dem ic h as m agn ified th e existin g str u ctu r al an d power in equ al ities th at con don e viol en ce an d

discr im in ation again st wom en . Th er e is an in cr ease in r ape an d defil em en t cases. In Ken ya, as at Ju n e 2020,Data fr om th e Dir ector of Pu bl ic Pr osecu tion s, r ecor ded th at sexu al offen ces for m 41% of th e total cases r epor ted sin ce M ar ch 16, 2020, with th e m ajor ity of th e victim s bein g wom en an d ch il dr en .

M ost offen ces h ave occu r r ed in dom estic settin gs, with th e per petr ator s bein g r el atives an d per son s l ivin g with victim s in a dom estic r el ation sh ip du r in g qu ar an tin e. Look in g at tr adition al r u r al settin gs, gir l s ar e m or e vu l n er abl e to th e r isk of FGM at th is tim e, with cl osu r e of sch ool s. W ith th e tou gh econ om ic con dition s, th er e is a h igh r isk of ch il d m ar r iage for adol escen t gir l s, in exch an ge for m on ey or br ide-pr ice.

Th er e is fu r th er r isk of gir l s? exposu r e to ch il d pr ostitu tion in an attem pt to offset h ou seh ol d an d/ or per son al expen ses.

Restr iction s im posed du r in g Covid-19 ar e l ik el y to discou r age victim s fr om seek in g m edical tr eatm en t or r epor tin g cases at th e pol ice station , an d especial l y du r in g cu r few h ou r s. In cases of dom estic viol en ce, th e victim m ay be for ced by cir cu m stan ces to stay h om e with th e abu ser , in cr easin g th e r isk of viol en ce an d con tr ol .

As a r espon se str ategy, GBV Or gan isation s ar e tr yin g as m u ch as possibl e to u til ize digital pl atfor m s an d social m edia to cr eate awar en ess on Gen der based Viol en ce (GBV) pr even tion an d r espon se, an d especial l y in h om e settin gs.

It is im por tan t to con tin u e sen sitizin g th e pu bl ic on

safety du r in g th is per iod, an d l et su r vivor s k n ow of th e avail abl e ch an n el s for r espon se an d tr eatm en t in addition to facil itatin g tem por ar y sh el ter.

th e pan dem ic. W ith th e cu r fews in pl ace an d l im ited fin an cial su ppor t, access to m ater n al h eal th car e is a ch al l en ge for pr egn an t teen ager s, in addition to th e stigm a 2.Teen age Pr egn an cy associated with teen Accor din g to W H O, an pr egn an cy.

Th er e is estim ated 21 m il l ion gir l s r el u ctan ce of pr ovidin g aged between 15?19 year s com pr eh en sive sexu al in devel opin g cou n tr ies edu cation in m an y get pr egn an t an n u al l y, cou n tr ies,r esu l tin g to with 12 m il l ion of th em in cr eased u n pr otected givin g bir th . Notin g th e sexu al beh aviou r am on g in cr eased r ates of GBV an d AYPs is cited as on e of th e ch il d m ar r iage du r in g th e cau ses for in cr eased pan dem ic, th is n u m ber of teen age pr egn an cy. W ith teen age pr egn an cies h as con ver sation s on sexu al ity soar ed sin ce th e on set of bein g con sider ed ?taboo?

in m an y h ou seh ol ds, m an y adol escen ts l ack k n owl edge an d em power m en t to en abl e th em m ak e in for m ed ch oices. Th er e is n eed to en su r e access to an ten atal an d m ater n al car e for pr egn an t gir l s, as wel l as em pl oy m easu r es th at wil l en abl e th em con tin u e th eir edu cation .

3.Access m en st r u al h y gi en e

to p r op er h eal t h an d

M en str u al h eal th an d h ygien e is a big ch al l en ge for gir l s an d wom en fr om

l ow in com e ar eas du r in g th e pan dem ic. W ith th e str ain ed fin an cial r esou r ces an d l ower h ou seh ol d in com e, affor dabil ity of san itar y h ygien e pr odu cts is a ch al l en ge du r in g th e Covid-19 pan dem ic. Th is pu ts gir l s at r isk of u sin g u n san itar y al ter n atives or en gagin g in sex in exch an ge for pads.Th e situ ation is fu r th er wor sen ed by th e sh or tage of cl ean water in u r ban in for m al settl em en ts to su stain good h ygien e.

Th er e is n eed to en su r e th at san itar y h ygien e

pr odu cts ar e fr ee for gir l s in l ow-in com e ar eas, pr efer abl y be in cl u ded in r el ief-car e pack ages.

4.Access t o h eal t h car e f or Ad ol escen t gi r l s l i vi n g w i th H IV W ith th e gr eater h eal th pr ior ity gear ed towar ds Covid-19 pr even tion , th er e is gen er al decl in e in con cer n for H IV pr even tion , tr eatm en t an d car e advocacy. Peopl e Livin g with H IV (PLH IV) an d n ot on tr eatm en t or vir al l y su ppr essed, ar e at a gr eater r isk of r edu ced im m u n ity.

W ith th e Covid-19 r estr iction s th at wer e in pl ace for th e per iod fol l owin g th e decl ar ation of Covid-19 as a gl obal pan dem ic, you n g peopl e l ivin g with H IV ar e l ess l ik el y th an befor e to visit h eal th facil ities for H IV testin g. Th e n eed to cu r b th e spr ead of th e vir u s n ecessitates avoidan ce of gath er in gs an d m ass activities. It is im por tan t for H eal th based NGO to con sider str ategies th at ar e you th fr ien dl y an d con ven ien t to you n g peopl e.

For in stan ce, INERELA+ Ken ya, a Ken yan NGO del iver s sel f-testin g k its to in dividu al s at th eir h om es an d in specified facil ities, in addition to l in k in g positive cl ien ts with im m ediate tr eatm en t an d psych o-social su ppor t.

An oth er ch al l en ge for PLH IV is th e disr u ption of cl in ical visits an d r ou tin e ch eck s du e to tr an spor t in ter r u ption s an d m ovem en t r estr iction s. In th is r egar d, INERELA+ Ken ya al so del iver s cou n sel in g for PLH IV on tel eph on e cal l an d facil itates h om e del iver y of ARVs wh er e access to cl ien t?s h eal th facil ity is

oth er wise in capacitated.

expl oitation .

C.Recom m en d at i on s

Even as States adopts var iou s m easu r es to stop th e spr ead of th e vir u s, it is im por tan t to r em em ber th e h u m an r igh ts obl igation to en su r e th e pr otection an d fu l fil m en t of th e r igh ts per tin en t to gir l s, an d especial l y at th is tim e wh en th ey ar e m ost vu l n er abl e to abu se an d expl oitation .

M an y gover n m en ts ar ou n d th e wor l d h ave m ade r em ar k abl e steps towar ds Covid-19 pr even tion , by en actin g m easu r es su ch as good h ygien e, stay-at-h om e m easu r es an d r estr icted m ovem en ts to h el p cu r b th e spr ead of th e vir u s.

Littl e cogn izan ce h owever h as been given to th e fact th at as peopl e sel f-isol ate in th eir h om es, n ot al l h om es m ay be safe an d vu l n er abl e m em ber s ar e at r isk of abu se an d

Recom m en dation s ar e as fol l ows:

1)In addition to Covid-19 pr even tion gu idel in es, Gover n m en t awar en ess r aisin g m essages sh ou l d expl icitl y advocate for safety as peopl e con tin u e to obser ve pr even tion m easu r es at h om e.

2)Th e Gover n m en t sh ou l d fu r th er pu bl icize r espon se m ech an ism s for wom en an d gir l s at r isk of sexu al viol en ce an d expl oitation , in cl u din g su r vivor s of GBV an d wom en access to an ten atal ser vices du r in g cu r few h ou r s.

3)Th er e is n eed to scal e u p tech n ol ogy-su ppor ted r epor tin g ser vices e.g. SM S al er ts to r espon d to cases of GBV th at occu r du r in g cu r few h ou r s wh en su r vivor s ar e pr even ted fr om l eavin g th e h ou se to r epor t cases.

4)Th e effor ts by th e Cou r ts in som e cou n tr ies su ch as Ken ya to pr ior itise sexu al offen ces as u r gen t du r in g l ock down ar e l au dabl e.

Th e pan dem ic h as h owever affected n or m al cou r t h ear in g pr ocedu r es, l eadin g to del ays in deter m in ation of th e cases.

Th er e is n eed for Cou r ts to adopt in n ovative str ategies of con du ctin g h ear in gs pr ior itisin g th e n eeds of su r vivor s of sexu al an d gen der based viol en ce.

5)Th er e is n eed for h eigh ten ed advocacy on th e pr even tion of teen age pr egn an cy, in cl u din g l aws th at pr otect teen age gir l s fr om defil em en t an d com pr eh en sive sexu al edu cation .

Access to m ater n al h eal th car e sh ou l d be accessibl e to pr egn an t adol escen t gir l s with ou t stigm a or discr im in ation .

6)Th er e is n eed for gl obal an d n ation al fu n d

al l ocation towar ds r espon se to GBV pr even tion an d r espon se, an d in par ticu l ar en su r in g th at su r vivor s h ave access to al ter n ative sh el ter for tem por ar y stay. W ith th e u til ization of pu bl ic h ospital s for Covid-19 r espon se, it is im por tan t to en su r e th at GBV su r vivor s can easil y access fr ee m edical car e an d tr eatm en t at gover n m en t GBV cen tr es.

7)Th er e is n eed to pr ovide fr ee san itar y towel s for gir l s in disadvan taged ar eas du r in g th is tim e wh en su ch com m odities con stitu te a h eavy expen se to gir l s.

8)Access to H IV testin g an d tr eatm en t sh ou l d be con ven ien t, accessibl e an d you th -fr ien dl y, in cl u din g del iver y of m edication to you n g peopl e wh ose cl in ical visits h ave been fr u str ated by th e pan dem ic.

9)Th er e is n eed for adol escen t gir l s l ivin g with H IV to be su ppor ted with food an d n u tr ition su ppl em en ts to fu r th er boost im m u n ity du r in g th is tim e.

10)Th er e is n eed to en su r e equ al r epr esen tation in Covid-19 r espon se an d decision -m ak in g, en su r in g th at you th an d par ticu l ar l y you n g wom en , ar e adequ atel y given a pl atfor m to tabl e th eir in ter ests. Th ese gr ou ps ou gh t to be con su l ted an d par ticipate in th e Covid-19 r espon se pr ogr am m es an d pol icies. You n g peopl e h ave br il l ian t ideas an d str ategies, an d sh ou l d be facil itated an d equ ipped to l ead in r espon din g to var iou s ch al l en ges in th eir com m u n ities du r in g th is tim e.

L i z Gu an t ai i s a l aw y er , sp eci al i st i n Su st ai n abl e Dev el op m en t an d H u m an Ri gh t s. Sh e i s al so a W om en Del i v er You n g L ead er

Child Pr ot ect ion & Safe Campuses Recom m en dation s for a H ol istic Appr oach to In stitu tion al Refor m s

By N i d a Usm an Ch au d h ar y & El ai n e Al am

For m il l ion s of stu den ts, sch ool s ar e n ot a safe l ear n in g en vir on m en t .

In cr easin g in ciden ts of viol en ce to an d fr om sch ool as wel l as with in th e pr em ises an d on l in e ar e on th e r ise. In Pak istan , r ecen t cases of h ar assm en t an d sexu al abu se again st ch il dr en , par ticu l ar l y in edu cation al con texts h as br ou gh t ser iou s focu s on th e n eed for a h ol istic an d par ticipator y ch il d pr otection system . It is in th is con text th at we wou l d discu ss th e existin g l egal fr am ewor k an d pr otection m ech an ism s, iden tifygaps, an d su ggest pol icy r ecom m en dation s as th e way for war d.

Th e idea th at pl aces of l ear n in g can be viol en t or dan ger ou s m igh t n ot com e acr oss as per ceptibl e h owever ,A UNICEF an al ysis of data u n der scor es h ow com m on viol en ce is in sch ool s ar ou n d th e wor l d.

Gl obal l y, h al f of stu den ts aged 13?15, abou t 150 m il l ion , r epor t exper ien cin g peer -to-peer viol en ce in an d ar ou n d sch ool . Gl obal l y, sl igh tl y m or e th an on e in th r ee stu den ts aged 13?15 exper ien ce bu l l yin g, an d abou t th e sam e pr opor tion ar e in vol ved in ph ysical figh ts. Abou t 720 m il l ion sch ool -aged ch il dr en l ive in cou n tr ies wh er e th ey ar e n ot fu l l y pr otected by l aw fr om cor por al pu n ish m en t at sch ool .Stu dies h ave r epor ted th at viol en ce exper ien ced in sch ool s an d ear l y year s can h ave a l astin g im pact on th e gr owth , academ ic ach ievem en ts an d psych ol ogical wel l -bein g of th e ch il d l eadin g to depr ession , an xiety, l ack of sel f-wor th , poor academ ic per for m an ce an d oth er ch al l en ges. W ith 60% of its

popu l ation u n der th e age of th ir ty, Pak istan h as a r espon sibil ity to en su r ech il dr en an d you n g adu l ts h ave access to edu cation , an d th atedu cation is con du cted in a safe l ear n in g en vir on m en t as wel l as m in im isin g th e th r eatof ch il dh ood viol en ce.

Ch il dr en ar e l ik el y to face var iou s types of abu se in an d ar ou n d edu cation al settin gs wh ich is n ot l im ited to h ar assm en t an d sexu al abu se al on e. M an y ch il dr en exper ien ce bu l l yin g (both on l in e an d offl in e) an d th is can be h ier ar ch ical or l in ear depen din g u pon its sou r ce.

Au th or itar ian sch ool str u ctu r es with th eir ou tm oded system s an d in accessibl e sen ior adm in istr ation can be in tim idatin g an d al ien atin g in th eir own way, l ik ewise, facu l ty an d staff cou l d be bu l l ies an d in ciden ces of peer -to-peer bu l l yin g ar e al so com m on . Cer tain r isk factor s in cl u din g gen der , r ace, eth n icity, r el igion , disabil ity, disease, an d pover ty m ay add to th e su sceptibil ity of viol en ce th at ch il dr en face in edu cation al settin gs.

Pak istan is sign ator y to th e UN Con ven tion on th e Righ ts of Ch il d 1989. It is al so a par ty to th eSou th Asian In itiative on En din g Viol en ce again st Ch il dr en .

Ar ticl e 25 of th e Con stitu tion of Pak istan 1973 cal l s for equ al ity of citizen s an d al l ows for special m easu r es to be adopted for wom en an d ch il dr en ,Ar t i cl e 25-A m ak es pr im ar y e du cation a r igh t of al l ch il dr en wh il e Ar t i cl e 35 an d 37of th e Con stitu tion cal l s f or th e pr otection of fam il y an d th e pr om otion of social ju stice.

Th e Su stain abl e

Devel opm en t Goal s,Goal 16, cal l s on to sign ifican tl y r edu ce al l for m s of viol en ce an d to?end abuse, exploitation and all for m s of violence against... childr en.?Goal 5 is focu sed on viol en ce again st wom en an d gir l s an d Tar get 4.A of Goal 4 cal l s for u pgr adin g edu cation facil ities so th ey?pr ovide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective lear ning envir onm ents for all.?

Despite th ese com m itm en ts, Pak istan h as n ot been abl e to establ isha con sol idated, h ol istic, an d a coor din ated ch il d pr otection case m an agem en t an d r efer r al system , in l in e with In ter n ation al stan dar ds acr oss al l its pr ovin ces. Th e devol u tion pu r su an t to th e 18t h Am en d m en t of t h e Con st i t u t i on h as on l y am pl ified th e pr ovin ces? in dividu al r espon sibil ity to l egisl ate on su bjects with in th eir dom ain . It is h er e th at ou r biggest con cer n l ies for th e pr ovin ce of Pu n jab far es th e wor st in ter m s of its ch il d pr otection m ech an ism wh en com par ed with oth er pr ovin ces an d ICT. KPK passed its Ch il d pr otection an d W el far e Act in 2010, Sin dh passed th e Ch il d Pr otection Au th or ity Act in 2011, Bal u ch istan passed th e Ch il d Pr otection Law in 2016 wh il e ICT passed its Ch il d Pr otection Law in 2018. In com par ison to r ecen t l egisl ation s, Pu n jab is stil l oper atin g u n der th e ?Pu n jab Dest i t u t e an d N egl ect ed Ch i l d r en Act ?th at was passed in 2004.

A cu r sor y l ook at th e titl es of th ese l egisl ation s itsel f su ggests th at th e Pu n jab Law is m or e r estr ictive an d l im ited to th e pr otection of ch il dr en wh o fal l u n der th e defin ition of ?destitu te? or

?n egl ected?. Sin ce sch ool goin g ch il dr en ar e ou tside th e scope, th e Pu n jab Ch il d Pr otection an d W el far e Bu r eau an d th e Ch il d Pr otection Un its establ ish ed u n der th e l aw do n ot tak e cogn isan ce of th e m atter s im pactin g th e l ife, h eal th an d wel l -bein g of an y ch il d at r isk u n l ik e th e oth er pr ovin cial ch il d pr otection boar ds/ com m ission s etc. establ ish ed u n der th eir r espective l egisl ation s do.

Th is is becau se, a ?ch il d at r isk ? is m or e br oadl y defin ed in th ose l egisl ation s wh ich al l ows for pr otection to be exten ded to m an y m or e ch il dr en .

Th is l im itation can be cl assified as a ser iou s gap in th e ch il d pr otection l egisl ation in Pu n jab wh en com par ed with its cou n ter par ts an d th at is u n for tu n ate becau se th er e al r eady exists a gover n an ce str u ctu r e, a bu r eau an d con cer n ed official s u n der th e Act, bu t du e to th e

r estr icted defin ition in th e statu te, th e pr ovision s of th e existin g m ech an ism can n ot be exten ded to pr otect m or e ch il dr en . Accor din gl y, it is h igh l y an d ser iou sl y r ecom m en ded th at, th e Pu n jab destitu te an d n egl ected ch il dr en Act 2004 be am en ded an d u pdated in l in e with th e com petin g pr ovin cial l aws, an d th e con stitu tion al an d in ter n ation al com m itm en ts of Pak istan cal l in g for an en d to viol en ce again st ch il dr en .

Th is cou l d al so be tak en as an oppor tu n ity to addr ess som e of th e addition al r isk s an d ch al l en ges th at edu cation al settin gs pose to ch il dr en . In par ticu l ar , th e focu s sh ou l d be on devel opin g with stak eh ol der con su l tation an d par ticipation , a set of ?safe l ear n in g gu idel in es? for sch ool s, col l eges, tu ition cen tr es an d oth er l ear n in g spaces wh ich can th en be

im pl em en ted th r ou gh th e edu cation depar tm en t to en su r e th at m in im u m stan dar ds of safe oper ation s an d pr ocedu r e to in itiate con fiden tial com pl ain ts ar e bein g fol l owed in al l l ear n in g en vir on m en ts for th e safety an d r edr essal of issu es faced by stu den ts with a gen der an d ch il d sen sitive appr oach .

In or der to m ak e th ese en deavou r s a su ccess, it is im per ative th e bu dgetar y al l ocation s ar e segr egated on th e basis of gen der an dgen der segr egated bu dgets ar e an n ou n ced by pr ovin cial gover n m en tsto sh ow h ow m u ch th e gover n m en t is com m ittin g to expen ditu r e on th e edu cation of gir l s an d vu l n er abl e ch il dr en an d th er eby in cr easin g th eir ch an ce ofaccess to edu cation ...Cu r r en tl y, of th e 22.8 m il l ion ou t-of-sch ool ch il dr en aged between 5-16 year s 49 per cen t ar e gir l s

In th e 2019 bu dget, edu cation r eceived l ess th an wh at it did l ast year. Th e al l ocation was 17.51 per cen t of th e total bu dget of th e pr ovin ce in th e fiscal year 2017-18, wh il e it was 17 per cen t in th e fiscal year 2017-18.In th e fiscal year , 2019-20, th e al l ocation h as fal l en to 16.64%. Th is m ean s th e al l ocation was 0.87 per cen t m or e two year s ago th an wh at it is du r in g th is fiscal year.

Cu r r en tl y, th er e is n o system in pl ace for disaggr egated data..

Agen der l en s sh ou l d be in tr odu ced at th e ver y ear l y stages of bu dget r espon siven ess.

an d 40 per cen t ar e boys.Th is sh ows th at a gr eater n u m ber of gir l s ar e ou t of sch ool as com par ed to th e n u m ber of boys.

Pr ovin cial estim ates pr esen t a sim il ar situ ation , as 53per cen tof gir l s in Pu n jab.

Appr oxim atel y 25 per cen t of r u r al gir l s in Pak istan com pl ete l ower secon dar y edu cation com par ed with 50 per cen t of r u r al boys.

Th e situ ation is wor se in th e r u r al ar eas of th e pr ovin ce.

For exam pl e, in r u r al M u zaffar gar h distr ict, th e aver age l iter acy r atio is 28.5 per cen t?

40.85pr ecen tfor boys an d a m er e 14.77per cen t for gir l s.Gen der in equ al ity in th e edu cation sector of Pu n jab is m or e visibl e. In its an n u al bu dget for fiscal year 2019-20, th e Pu n jab gover n m en t h as al l ocated a total of Rs 382.9 bil l ion for edu cation , wh ich was 373 bil l ion in 2018-19 ? m ean in g th at th e vol u m e of

in vestm en t h as in cr eased for edu cation . If we com par e th e in vestm en t in ter m s of pr opor tion , th en th e situ ation is differ en t. For 2019-20 th e al l ocation for edu cation is 16.64per cen tof th e total bu dget of th e pr ovin ce. In October 2018, wh en th e m in i bu dget was pr esen ted, Rs 373 bil l ion was al l ocated for edu cation in Pu n jab ou t of th e total bu dget of Rs 2,026.51 bil l ion , m ak in g it 18.4 per cen t of th e total bu dget; it was in itial l y 17.5 per cen t of th e total bu dget.

Th e pr ovin cial An n u al Devel opm en t Pl an (ADP) for th e year 2018-2019 states ?to en su r e 100% en r ol m en t, r eten tion of al l en r ol l ed stu den ts u p to 5-16 year s, gen der par ity, an d im pr ovem en t in edu cation al stan dar ds cou pl ed with access to qu al ity edu cation ?. Th is an al ysis sh ows th at th is is n ot th e case.

N i d a Usm an i s an i n d ep en d en t l egal con su l t an t f ocu si n g on h u m an r i gh t s, i n cl u si v e soci et i es an d cl i m at e ch an ge.

El ai n e Al am i s a d ev el op m en t con su l t an t an d Gen er al Secr et ar y of Faces Pak i st an .

TheGoodGirl ChildBrides& their Misfortunes

By Aai m a Asad

M eet Sh afaq.

Sh afaq was bor n in 1999. Sh e is th e th ir d ch il d of h er par en ts. Sh e h as two el der sister s an d two you n ger br oth er s. Sh afaq bel on gs to an aver age m iddl e-cl ass fam il y in Pak istan . Sh afaq?s fath er is a pol ice officer an d h er m oth er is a h ou sewife.

Sh afaq?s ear l iest r ecol l ection is fr om wh en sh e was r ou gh l y th e age of fou r. At th at age Sh afaq star ted h el pin g h er m oth er an d sister s in th e k itch en an d with oth er h ou seh ol d ch or es. W h en sh e ask ed to go ou tside an d pl ay, sh e was tol d ?Good gir ls don?t go outside the house. Good gir ls listen to their par ents.

Be a good gir l and continue your chor es.?

As Sh afaq gr ew ol der , sh e n oticed th at h er br oth er wh o was h ar dl y a year you n ger th an h er , star ted disappear in g fr om th e h ou se for sign ifican t per iods of tim e. W h en sh e in qu ir ed as to wh er e h e wen t, sh e was tol d h e was sen t to sch ool . Con fu sed, Sh afaq ask ed h er m oth er wh y sh e was n ever sen t to sch ool an d h er m oth er tol d h er , ?Good gir ls don?t go to school. Good gir ls stay inside the house. N ow be a good gir l and continue your chor es?.

As tim e passed Sh afaq an d h er sister s took over th e du ties of th e h ou se: wash in g cl oth es, cook in g, sewin g, ir on in g an d cl ean in g after th em sel ves, th eir br oth er s an d th eir fath er. It was con sider ed th eir du ty an d th e task s wer e r el igiou sl y per for m ed. On e after n oon , wh il e Sh afaq?s el der sister was h an gin g th e l au n dr y on th eir r ooftop, th e n eigh bor ?s son wh o often watch ed h er fr om afar , sm il ed at h er.

Th ey l ock ed eyes for th e

br iefest m om en t bu t th e even t was witn essed by Sh afaq?s fath er. In a fit of r age, he dr agged h is dau gh ter fr om th e r ooftop an d beat h er r el en tl essl y.

W h en sh e tr ied to escape, h e gr an ted h er en ou gh r epr ieve for h er stan d u p an d th en sl am m ed h er h ead again st th e wal l . Sh e died fr om in tr acr an ial h em or r h agin g. Fear fu l of th e power h e wiel ded as a pol ice officer , k n owin g th e pol ice station wou l d do ever yth in g in th eir power to pr otect on e of th eir own , n o on e fr om th eir com m u n ity even attem pted to h ol d Sh afaq?s fath er accou n tabl e for m u r der. H e ju stified h is action s bel ievin g h e k il l ed h er to pr otect h is fam il y?s h on or an d for bade h is fam il y to gr ieve. H e sil en ced Sh afaq?s m oth er fr om ever br oach in g th e topic or m en tion in g h er n am e in th e h ou se ever again . Sh afaq watch ed th e even ts u n fol d befor e h er eyes, power l ess to h el p h er sister or h er m oth er.

Soon th er eafter , Sh afaq?s r em ain in g sister was m ar r ied off an d sh e l eft th e h ou seh ol d.

Sh e n ever r etu r n ed to visit. Th u s, th e r espon sibil ity of m ain tain in g th e h ou seh ol d fel l squ ar el y on Sh afaq, an d th e twel ve-year ol d, u n der th e su per vision of h er m oth er , car r ied on . Sh e was tol d to con tin u e h er du ties even if sh e was tir ed, sick or gen er al l y em otion al l y over wh el m ed. H er br oth er s wer e n ever ask ed to h el p r el ieve h er bu r den . Sh e was tol d, ?Good gir ls don?t com plain. Good gir ls ar e thankful for what they have. N ow be a good gir l and continue your chor es?

W h il e h er br oth er s pl ayed gam es, wen t to sch ool , r ead book s an d set goal s an d

aspir ation s for th em sel ves Sh afaq toil ed away, fr om dawn til l du sk , fu l fil l in g h er r espon sibil ities of l ook in g after h er h ou se an d fam il y.

W h en Sh afaq tu r n ed fifteen , sh e was tol d by h er par en ts th at th ey h ad fou n d h er a su itor an d th at sh e wou l d be wed with in th e n ext th r ee m on th s. Sh afaq was excited at th e pr ospect of l eavin g h er h ou se an d gettin g m ar r ied. Sh e wou l d often watch tel evision with h er br oth er s an d h oped m ar r iage wou l d fu l fil l th e year n in g sh e fel t after n oticin g h ow h er fam il y an d r el atives al ways gave pr efer en ce to h er br oth er s over h er.

Sh afaq was n ot m en tal l y pr epar ed for m ar r iage as h er fam il y was too bu sy gettin g m ater ial possession s (dowr y) to sen d with h er on th e day sh e l eft h er h om e.

Neith er h er par en ts, n or h er r el atives expl ain ed th e dyn am ics th at exist an d th e ph ysical in tim acy th at wou l d en su e between th e cou pl e post-m ar r iage.

Sh afaq m et h er h u sban d on h er weddin g day. H er h u sban d was a 32-year ol d m an wh o own ed a car r epair sh op an d was con sider ed wel l -settl ed in th eir com m u n ity.

On th eir weddin g n igh t, befor e Sh afaq cou l d even h ave a con ver sation with h er h u sban d, h e for ced h im sel f on h er. Sh afaq bl ed an d cr ied th e en tir e n igh t wh il e h er h u sban d sl ept peacefu l l y after satisfyin g h is l u st. W h en sh e m et h er m oth er th e n ext day, a ter r ified Sh afaq tol d h er m oth er of th e br u tal ity sh e h ad faced an d h er m oth er cal m l y said to h er , ?Good gir ls don?t com plain. I t is your duty to keep your husband happy.

Do whatever it takes, m ould

your self to suit his needs and desir es. Take car e of him and diligently do your chor es?.

W ith th at bein g said, sh e l eft. Sh afaq was l eft al l al on e.

Sh afaq did n ot k n ow wh at h er r igh ts wer e, sh e did n ot k n ow wh o to tu r n to for h el p, so sh e sil en tl y bor e th e abu se h er h u sban d wou l d in fl ict on h er. A m an wh o h ad on l y m ar r ied h er at th e in sisten ce of h is fam il y, wh o sim pl y viewed h er as an object to satisfy h is l u st on com m an d. Sh afaq wan ted to escape h is m on str ou s cl u tch es fr om th e days sh e was wed, bu t sh e h ad n o m on ey to h er n am e. H er h u sban d con fiscated al l th e jewel r y an d val u abl e item s sh e br ou gh t with h er. Sh afaq did n ot own a ban k accou n t.

Sh e didn ?t even k n ow h ow to wr ite h er own n am e or to r ead r oad sign s if sh e n eeded to. Sh afaq wen t fr om th e con fin es of h er h ou se to l ivin g with a com pl ete str an ger with n o tool s to h el p h er n avigate h er n ew r ol e.

Sh afaq con ceived h er fir st ch il d wh en sh e was sixteen year s ol d an d wen t on to bear seven ch il dr en . Sh e wan ted to stop after two, h owever ,h er h u sban d wou l d n ot con sen t to an y m ean s of con tr aception an d Sh afaq h ad n o way of en for cin g h er wish es. Sh afaq was tak en to th e sam e doctor du r in g h er pr egn an cies. After th e bir th of h er secon d ch il d wh en ever sh e h ad a br ief m om en t of sol itu de with th e doctor , sh e begged h er to ster il ize h er sin ce sh e did n ot wan t to bear m or e ch il dr en . H owever , ever y tim e, sh e was tol d th at su ch decision s n eeded to be m ade by h er h u sban d an d a wr itten appl ication an d con sen t for m h ad to be su bm itted to th e h ospital

befor e th e pr ocedu r e cou l d be sch edu l ed. Over th e year s, Sh afaq r eal ized th at n o on e car ed abou t h er voice. It h el d n o val u e in th e pr ivate con fin es of h er h ou se or in th e pu bl ic dom ain of a h ospital . H er h u sban d?s wish es an d con sen t m atter ed even if it r evol ved ar ou n d h er bodil y au ton om y. Sh afaq often th ou gh t abou t h ow h er m oth er wasn ?t even al l owed to gr ieve th e l oss of h er ch il d becau se h er fath er for bade it. Bein g a m oth er h er sel f, Sh afaq th ou gh t abou t wh at a patien t an d br ave per son h er m oth er was. Sh e n ever bl am ed h er m oth er for h er fath er ?s abu se.

Sh e u n der stood th at bein g il l iter ate an d fin an cial l y depen den t, h er m oth er h ad n o option bu t to su ccu m b to wh at h er fath er wan ted. Sh e cr ied th in k in g of h ow th at cycl e con tin u ed with h er.

Sh afaq died at th e age of twen ty-six givin g bir th to h er eigh th ch il d, wh ich was con ceived with ou t h er con sen t. Sh e died n ever h avin g exper ien ced r el ease fr om oppr ession . Sh e n ever h ad an y in depen den ce. Sh e faced em otion al abu se du r in g h er tim e at h er par en ts? h ou se an d ph ysical , sexu al , psych ol ogical an d

econ om ic abu se at th e h an ds of h er h u sban d.

Su ch abu se l ed h er to devel op depr ession , fear , an xiety, l ow sel f-esteem , eatin g pr obl em s, obsessive-com pu l sive disor der an d post-tr au m atic str ess disor der wh ich u l tim atel y l ed to h er u n tim el y death .

H er h u sban d r e-m ar r ied ver y soon after h er death as h e n eeded som eon e to tak e car e of h is ch il dr en an d h is n eeds. H e m ar r ied an eigh teen -year ol d gir l th is tim e. H e wan ted h is wife to be at l east twice th e age of h is ol dest ch il d. H e acted th e exact sam e way with h is n ew wife as h e did with Sh afaq k n owin g th at n o m atter wh at h e did, society wou l d n ot qu estion h im sin ce h e h ad th e pr ivil ege of bein g bor n a m an an d sol idifyin g th at stan din g by h avin g a su ccessfu l bu sin ess.

W h atever abu se occu r r ed beh in d cl osed door s was ter m ed ?a pr ivate m atter ?, on e th at th e society sh ou l d n ot in ter fer e in .

W h en th e n ews of Sh afaq?s death r each ed h er par en ts, h er m oth er on l y said, ?She was such a good gir l.? An d con tin u ed h er ch or es.

Aaimais anAdvocateof the HighCourt andasenior associate at AJURIS Advocates and CorporateCounsel . Sheis al so currentlyteachingas part of the visitingfaculty, at LGS DIDPas a Lecturer.

Th is is th e stor y of cou n tl ess gir l s wh o ar e m ar r ied off du r in g th eir ch il dh ood.

W h il e ch il d m ar r iage occu r s am on g both boys an d gir l s, th e pr eval en ce is abou t six tim es h igh er am on gst th e gir l ch il d. Accor din g to th e UNICEF r epor t pu bl ish ed in 2019, 5.7 m il l ion adol escen t gir l s r eceived pr even tion an d car e in ter ven tion s to addr ess ch il d m ar r iage in 45 cou n tr ies.W ith in Pak istan al on e, 21% of gir l s ar e stil l m ar r ied befor e th ey tu r n eigh teen an d 3% ar e m ar r ied befor e th e age of fifteen . It is estim ated th at en din g ch il d m ar r iage in Pak istan cou l d l ead to a $ 6,229 m il l ion r ise in ear n in gs an d pr odu ctivity with in th e cou n tr y.

On e of th e ways th at you can h el p cu r b ch il d m ar r iages in you r cou n tr y is by tal k in g abou t m atter s th at ar e often con sider ed taboo in society.

Topics su ch as m ar ital r ape, sex edu cation , dom estic abu se, m en tal h eal th , gas-l igh tin g, divor ce, th e u se of con tr aception ?s etc. ar e ar eas th at both m en an d wom en n eed gu idan ce on .

W h en h eal th y discu ssion s an d dissem in ation of in for m ation occu r s, m or e peopl e wil l u n der stan d wh at th e pr obl em actu al l y is.

Awar en ess of th e pr obl em is th e fir st step to fin din g a sol u tion .

Ch an gin g th e m in dset of th e com m u n ity is par am ou n t. If l aws exist, bu t th ey ar e n ot im pl em en ted

becau se of pr evail in g cu l tu r al pr actices, ju stice wil l n ever be ach ieved. It is a fact th at con sider abl ewor k r em ain s to be don e to abol ish su ch pr actices gl obal l y. Non eth el ess, in u n ity th er e is str en gth an d if we al l com e togeth er , we can for m a tr u e egal itar ian society.

Paris Agreement Impl ications for the Environment & Cl imateChange

By Zen eb Abi d

Th e Par is Agr eem en t sign ed in 2016 in Par is, Fr an ce pr opagates th e m itigation of gr een h ou se gases em ission wor l d-wide in or der to cater to a gl obal ch al l en ge of cl im ate ch an ge. It is an agr eem en t with in th eUn ited Nation s Fr am ewor k Con ven tion on Cl im ate Ch an ge. As of 2020, n ear l y 189 m em ber s ar e par ty to

th is Agr eem en t in cl u din g Pak istan . Th e pr edecessor s of th e Par is Agr eem en t in cu l catin g cl im ate ch an ge as a ch al l en ge wer e th e Kyoto Pr otocol an d th e Copen h agen Accor d, r espectivel y.

Th e m ain aim of th e agr eem en t is to r equ ir e m em ber s to m ak e effor ts to

k eep th e r ise in gl obal aver age tem per atu r e wel l bel ow two degr ees Cel siu s.

Con sequ en tl y, th is agr eem en t is sign ifican t to r edu ce th e r isk of cl im ate ch an ge.

M or eover , th is agr eem en t en visages each m em ber cou n tr y to devise a n ation al pl an in or der to r edu ce gr een h ou se gas em ission an d dr astic effects

Recen tl y, th e US h as sign al ed th at th ey wish to with dr aw fr om th e agr eem en t in Novem ber 2020. It is per tin en t to m en tion th e r eason s for US to with dr aw fr om th is agr eem en t. Fir stl y, it was al l eged th at th e Par is Agr eem en t if im pl em en ted wou l d cau se th r ee tr il l ion US dol l ar s l oss in GDP an d n ear l y six m il l ion jobs l oss.

Th er efor e, it was an ticipated to cau se a gr eat l oss to US econ om y. Secon dl y, th is agr eem en t was obser ved as bein g a h in dr an ce for US to bu il d power pl an ts. Th ir dl y, it was con ten ded th at con tr ibu tion s to th e gr een cl im ate fu n d wer e paid ou t of th e US defen se bu dget an d h en ce th is cou l d bu r den th e US econ om y.

Th e with dr awal of a m ajor su per power fr om th e Par is Agr eem en t cou l d h ave dr astic effects. Fir stl y, it cou l d h am per th e effor ts of cou n ter in g a gl obal ch al l en ge of cl im ate ch an ge sin ce th e US was a m ajor con tr ibu tor of th e Gr een Cl im ate Fu n d. Secon dl y, th is with dr awal cou l d al so possibl y give Ch in a an d th e Eu r opean Un ion power gl obal l y to con tr ol th e cl im ate ch an ge r egim e. It cou l d al so boost th eir in ter n ation al r epu tation s an d soft power. Lastl y, it cou l d al so affect th e effor ts to cou n ter cl im ate ch an ge sin ce th e US wil l n ot be bou n d with an y of gl obal war m in g. Each in ter n ation al obl igation s to gr een h ou se gas tar get h as to go beyon d th e r edu ce em ission s. pr eviou s tar gets often ter m ed as th e ?pr in cipl e of A stu dy in ?Th e Natu r e? h as pr ogr ession ?. It fu r th er al l eged th at n on e of th e r equ ir es each m em ber in du str ial ized n ation s h ave cou n tr y to m ak e m et th eir r edu ction tar gets. con tr ibu tion s to m eet th e Fu r th er , even if th ey h ad th e gl obal tar get of r edu ction in su m of al l m em ber s wou l d tem per atu r e k n own as th e n ot k eep gl obal tem per atu r e ?Nation al l y Deter m in ed r ise wel l bel ow two degr ees Con tr ibu tion s?.

Cel siu s. M or e im por tan tl y,

th e Par is Agr eem en t is al l eged n ot to h ave a bin din g en for cem en t m ech an ism .

Cr itics l ik e Jam es H el sen , a cl im ate ch an ge exper t, con n otes th at th e Par is Agr eem en t seem s l ik e a n o action -ju st pr om ise agr eem en t. H e fu r th er is of th e view th at th e agr eem en t n eeds to m en tion a tax for car bon dioxide em ission wh ich cou l d act as a deter r en t factor for its con tr ol by th e devel opedcou n tr ies.

Even th ou gh th e Par is Agr eem en t in th e for m of an UN-based gl obal appr oach to cou n ter th e gl obal ch al l en ge of cl im ate ch an ge is a step in th e r igh t dir ection , h owever , m or e n eeds to be don e. As per th e IPCC an d oth er sou r ces, th e m em ber cou n tr ies ar e n ot on tr ack to k eep th e wor l d at a safe tem per atu r e-on e th at does n ot cau se dr astic effects. Th er efor e, in or der to avoid wor st con sequ en ces of cl im ate ch an ge, a few r ecom m en dation s wil l be given .

Fir stl y, it is essen tial to effectu ate a m assive tr an sition fr om fossil to n on -fossil en er gy an d th e l ar ge-scal e r em oval of car bon fr om th e atm osph er e. In th is r egar d, eith er m ak in g it m an dator y for Par is Agr eem en t m em ber s to pl an t m or e tr ees th at wou l d absor b excessive car bon dioxide or appl y a tax or du ty for excessive u se ar e a pl au sibl e sol u tion s. Secon dl y sin ce th e Nation al l y Deter m in ed Con tr ibu tion s ar e back bon e of th e agr eem en t, h el p wil l be n eeded fr om var iou s stak eh ol der s for cou n tr ies to m eet th ese con tr ibu tion s.

For exam pl e, a h igh l evel of pol itical atten tion fr om UN secr etar y gen er al an d G20

cou n tr ies is r equ ir ed to en su r e NDCs im pl em en tation . Fu r th er , tech n ical an d fin an cial assistan ce su ch as th r ou gh Gr een Cl im ate Fu n d an d NDC Par tn er sh ip is r equ ir ed for devel opin g cou n tr ies in NDCs im pl em en tation .

Th er e is al so a gr eat n eed of pr essu r e fr om civil society to h el p pu sh for str on ger com m itm en ts.

M or e im por tan tl y, with US with dr awal fr om th e Par is Agr eem en t h as dem on str ated a gr eat n eed of an al ter n ate su per power l ik e th e US to join th e Par is Agr eem en t. Th is is becau se with th e US l eavin g th e Par is Agr eem en t th er e is a n eed for an oth er fin an cial con tr ibu tor of th e Gr een Cl im ate Fu n d. M or eover , it is al so essen tial for oth er in ter n ation al or gan ization s su ch as th e W or l d Tr ade Or gan ization to m ak e an affir m ative con tr ibu tion towar ds th e effor t of cou n ter in g cl im ate ch an ge.

For exam pl e, th e W TO cou l d in tr odu ce a fossil fu el su bsidy r efor m .

Th e Par is Agr eem en t is a gr eat su ccess

for in ter n ation al en vir on m en tal pr otection an d th egl obal ch al l en ge of cl im ate ch an ge. H owever , th er e is a n eed for str in gen t im pl em en tation of NDCs, effective con tr ol of car bon dioxide by th e m em ber cou n tr ies. Th is can be en su r ed th r ou gh su ppor t an d in vol vem en t of in ter n ation al or gan ization s su ch as W TO, NDC par tn er sh ip for devel opin g cou n tr ies, gr eater pol itical wil l fr om cou n tr ies an d decr easin g h azar dou s activities l ik e defor estation .

It is in tegr al for al l cou n tr ies to wor k effectivel y towar ds th e cau se of cl im ate action wh ich is al so th e th ir teen th Su stain abl e Devel opm en t Goal of th e Un ited Nation s.

ZenebAbidis anLLBandLLM graduatefromUniversityof London International Programmeandis currentlyaLecturer for LLM Universityof LondonInternational Programme.

9

Cl imateChange Inequitable Impacts on W omen

By Sar a H ay at

Cl im ate ch an ge is im pactin g u s al l in dir ect an d in dir ect ways bu t even th en som e of u s ar e m or e adver sel y affected. Th e degr ee to wh ich we ar e l eft m or e vu l n er abl e to th e im pacts of cl im ate ch an ge is in fl u en ced in l ar ge m easu r e by ou r social stan din g, fin an cial wel l -bein g, access an d con tr ol over r esou r ces an d gen der.

Th e l in k between gen der in equ al ity an d cl im ate ch an ge is so often ign or ed th at it r equ ir es extr a effor t to be pl aced at th e for efr on t of cl im ate r el ated discou r se. Gen der in equ al ity for ces differ en t gen der s to exper ien ce cl im ate ch an ge differ en tl y an d affects th eir abil ity, at both an in dividu al an d com m u n ity l evel , to adapt effectivel y to it. Even with in wom en , m ar gin al ized gr ou ps, su ch as wom en an d gir l s with disabil ities, widows, r efu gees, sin gl e wom en an d eth n ic, r el igiou s an d sexu al m in or ity gr ou ps, feel th e dispr opor tion ate im pacts of cl im ate ch an ge m or e str on gl y.

Th e best way to u n der stan d th e in equ itabl e gen der ed im pacts of cl im ate ch an ge is by accou n tin g r eal wor l d im pacts on wom en an d gir l s.

In m an y par ts of th e devel opin g wor l d, wom en ar e cu l tu r al l y assign ed th e cr u cial r ol es of

r u n n in g an d m ain tain in g th e h ou seh ol d.

Th is in cl u des u n der tak in g ch or es su ch as cook in g, cl ean in g an d en su r in g th at th e basic n eeds of fam il y m em ber s, especial l y ch il dr en , ar e m et. W ith cl im ate ch an ge dim in ish in g n atu r al r esou r ces l ik e fir ewood, n ecessar y for cook in g an d h eatin g, wom en ar e fin din g it difficu l t to com pl ete even th e m ost u n com pl icated of ch or es. For wom en , th is often al so in cites feel in gs of bein g in adequ ate, an xiety an d depr ession .

Th e situ ation is exacer bated du e to cl im ate tr igger ed water scar city. W om en in r u r al ar eas of Pak istan wal k a distan ce of 2 k m s, som etim es m u l tipl e tim es a day, to fetch water in m etal pots pl aced over th eir h eads. Th ese wom en com pl ain of h eadach es, back ach es, h air l oss an d feel despon den t over th e tim e an d ph ysical l abou r n ecessar y to access a basic n eed, l ik e water. In 2016, UNICEF estim ated th at wom en spen d 200 m il l ion h ou r s ever y day tr yin g to col l ectwater .

Th ey fu r th er r epor ted th at in Su b-Sah ar an Afr ica, 3.36 m il l ion ch il dr en an d 13.54 m il l ion adu l t fem al es wer e r espon sibl e for col l ectin g water , an d ever y tr ip took 30 m in u tes on aver age.

W or se stil l , m ost of th ese water sou r ces wil l expose th eir u ser s to r isk s of diar r h eal an d oth er water -bor n e diseases.

Fu r th er m or e, wal k in g l on g distan ces to col l ect water l eaves wom en m or e vu l n er abl e to sexu al h ar assm en t an d viol en ce an d m ak e th em easy tar gets for attack s fr om wil d an im al s.

Cl im ate ch an ge in du ced m igr ation poses an addition al set of pr obl em s for wom en an d gir l s.

Often with ou t an y power to tak e decision s th em sel ves, wom en ar e for ced between a r ock an d a h ar d pl ace. If th ey accom pan y m en on season al m igr ation to wor k on fiel ds, th ey ar e distu r bed by th e l ack of pr ivacy wh en th ey even sl eep al on gside oth er u n r el ated m al e wor k er s on th e fiel ds, fin d it difficu l t to ten d to th eir basic n eeds su ch as even accessin g m ak e-sh ift wash r oom s an d spen d th eir n igh ts awak e u n der str ess of k eepin g th eir fam il y an d ch il dr en safe fr om dan ger ou s an im al s, sn ak es an d vector -bor n e diseases l ik e m al ar ia an d den gu e.

If wom en do n ot accom pan y m en in th eir pu r su it of ear n in g a l ivel ih ood, l eft al on e with th e ch il dr en , th ey ar e m or e vu l n er abl e to sexu al h ar assm en t an d viol en ce an d extr em e weath er even ts. M ost peopl e wh o m igr ate du e to cl im ate ch an ge often fl ee fr om ar eas su sceptibl e to n atu r al disaster s, su ch as cycl on es an d fl oods.

M an y of th e afor em en tion ed im pacts on wom en ar e fel t with th e sam e in ten sity by adol escen t gir l s. H owever , cl im ate ch an ge h as tr igger ed som e u n iqu e an d u n for tu n ate im pacts specific to gir l s as wel l . M an y gir l s ar e for ced to dr op ou t of sch ool to h el p th eir m oth er s with th e in cr eased bu r den of com pl etin g dom estic ch or es an d fetch in g water. As cl im ate ch an ge im pacts sh ove peopl e in to abject pover ty, fam il y el der s wil l ch oose to m ar r y off you n g gir l s to decr ease th eir fam il y?sfin an cial str ess. Cl im ate ch an ge h as actu al l y in cr eased ch il d m ar r iage an d fu r th er ed th e viciou s cycl e of in ter gen er ation al pover ty for wom en . Cl im ate ch an ge im pacted gir l s wil l exper ien ce h u m an r igh ts abu ses an d even be th r u st in to h u m an tr affick in g, as th eir fam il ies str u ggl e to m ak e en ds m eet.

Th e after m ath of cl im ate ch an ge in du ced an d/ or exacer bated n atu r al disaster s pose addition al h el l for wom en an d gir l s. 14 tim es m or e m en th an wom en su r vive n atu r al disaster s l ik e fl oods becau se wom en wer e n ever cu l tu r al l y al l owed to l ear n to swim , an d al so ch oose to waste pr eciou s evacu ation tim e gath er in g ch il dr en an dbel on gin gs. In th e 1991 cycl on e th at h it Ban gl adesh , 90% of victim s wer e wom en . Even in in du str ial ized n ation s, as seen in th e Un ited States du r in g H u r r ican e Katr in a, th e h igh est casu al ties wer e fr om m ar gin al ized gr ou ps, l ik e Afr ican Am er ican wom en , wh o l ive in disaster pr on e ar eas to pay ch eaper r en t. In disaster r el ief cam ps, wom en an d gir l s ar e m ost vu l n er abl e to sexu al h ar assm en t an d m ost su sceptibl e to viol en ce.

W e n eed cl im ate ch an ge r el ated edu cation to becom e r ou tin e in sch ool s so th at gir l s an d th r ou gh th em wom en , at l east begin to u n der stan d wh at th ey ar e bein g im pacted by. Gen der sen sitive capacity bu il din g is al so sem in al , with ou t wh ich r u r al wom en wil l n ever be abl e to diver sify th eir ear n in g poten tial

an d wil l con tin u e to l ose l ivel ih ood as cl im ate ch an ge im pacts agr icu l tu r e, fish er ies an d l ivestock .

Cl im ate ch an ge in du ced gen der dispar ity th ou gh wil l n ever r eal l y get el im in ated u n l ess cl im ate adaptation pr ojects tar get wom en specifical l y an d gr een fu n din g pr ior itizes wom en . M or e wom en sh ou l d be in position s to in fl u en ce cl im ate m itigation , adaptation an d disaster r el ief str ategies.

Com battin g th e cl im ate cr isis r equ ir es ador n in g a h u m an r igh ts l en s, as r ecogn ized by th e Par is Agr eem en t itsel f. A fail u r e to ack n owl edge gen der dispar ity with in cl im ate ch an ge im pacts, an d n ot em power in g wom en to tak e gen der r espon sive decision s, wil l on l y wor sen th e gl obal cl im ate cr isis.

Sar a H ay at is a l awyer an d con su l tan t special izin g in cl im ate ch an ge l aw an d pol icy.

Sh e tak es special in ter est in th e in equ itabl e im pacts of cl im ate ch an ge on wom en in Pak istan an d br in gs th eir pl igh t to th e for efr on t th r ou gh con tin u ed discou r se. Sar a is a pr ou d m em ber of Cl im ate Action Pak istan , wh ich or gan ized th e fir st cl im ate str ik es acr oss th e cou n tr y in over 40 cities. Sh e com pl eted h er fir st LLM fr om Du r h am Un iver sity,UK, an d pr acticed l aw in Pak istan for six year s befor e goin g for a secon d LLM to th e Un iver sity of M ich igan , US, to stu dy cl im ate ch an ge l aw an d en vir on m en tal ju stice. Sar a wr ites on cl im ate ch an ge for n ewspaper s.

M y V oi ce Our Eq ual Future

By L au r en M oss

On ce u pon a tim e, th er e was a l ittl e gir l wh o join ed th e Br own ies, becau se sh e th ou gh t it h ad som eth in g to do with br own ies. Littl e did sh e k n ow th at Br own ies was abou t gir l s com in g togeth er to pr ove th at th ey cou l d do an yth in g.

Th ou gh sh e was, at fir st, a l ittl e disappoin ted th at th er e wer e n o br own ies th er e, sh e soon fel l in l ove with th is sister h ood, an d sh e r em ain s in th e Bah am as Gir l Gu ides Association to th is day, th ou gh n ow as a Ran ger. If you h ave n ot gu essed it yet, th at l ittl e gir l was m e. I h ave l oved ever yth in g abou t Br own ies, Gir l Gu ides, an d Ran ger s sin ce th e fir st m eetin g I wen t to at five year s ol d.

Tech n ical l y, I was a Su n fl ower , bu t I didn ?t k n ow it at th e tim e. Despite m y disappoin tm en t in th e l ack of ch ocol atey tr eats, I cou l dn ?t tu r n m y back on Gir l Gu ides. I was h avin g too m u ch fu n to even con sider qu ittin g. Bu t besides th e son gs, fu n an d gam es, Gir l Gu ides h as im pacted m e m or e th an I cou l d?ve ever im agin ed. It?s tau gh t m e th r ee ver y im por tan t th in gs th at I?m goin g to sh ar e with you , th e fir st bein g th at I h ave th e power to m ak e m y own decision s.

In Gu ides, we h ave al ways been tau gh t n ot to be afr aid to voice ou r opin ion s. Often tim es, we wou l d be separ ated in to gr ou ps, or patr ol s, an d assign ed a task . I h ave al ways l oved th ese gam es becau se ever yon e wou l d be in cl u ded. If I h ad an idea, I cou l d sh ar e it with ou t bein g sh ot down .

W e wer e m ak in g ou r own decision s on goin g abou t th e task at h an d. If we fail ed, we wou l d ju st star t over again . After al l , fail u r e is th e k ey to su ccess. I r em em ber on ce wh en we wer e given a scen ar io. ?Im agin e you ?r e th r owin g a par ty.

W h at type of peopl e wou l d you in vite? Sh or t, tal l , sk in n y, m u scu l ar ; Th e ch oice is you r s.?

Im m ediatel y,I wan ted n o par t in th is.

Ju dgin g peopl e based on appear an ces was n ot som eth in g I wou l d?ve l ik ed to do, an d so I voiced th at opin ion , bu t th e oth er gir l s in m y gr ou p pr essu r ed m e in to addin g to th e activity, an d r el u ctan tl y, I gave in . I l ater discover ed th at th er e was an oth er open th in k er in th e r oom wh o h ad gon e to ou r com pan y l eader to tel l h er wh at sh e th ou gh t of th is activity, an d th at ou r sh ar ed opin ion was th e poin t of th e exer cise al l al on g. A l ot of th e gir l s in th e r oom wou l d n ot h ave been in vited to th e oth er gir l s? par ties, an d th at open ed ever yon e?s eyes to th e in adver ten t bias an d pr eju dice th ey h ad sh own . Th at day I m ade th e decision to stan d u p for wh at I bel ieve in , even if I th in k n obody wil l stan d with m e.

Th at l ittl e stor y sets u s u p per fectl y for th e secon d im por tan t l esson I h ave l ear n ed fr om bein g in Gir l Gu ides. Gir l Gu ides tau gh t m e th at society does n ot defin e wh o I am .

L au r en M oss

Befor e ou r com pan y l eader h ad an n ou n ced h er tr u e in ten tion s, I h ad been l isten in g to al l th e th in gs th at th e oth er gir l s h ad said th eir ideal par ty gu est wou l d l ook l ik e. ?H azel eyes. Lon g h air. Sk in n y gir l s.? I th ou gh t to m ysel f abou t h ow m an y of th ese th in gs I was n ot, an d th en I stopped an d th ou gh t abou t h ow m an y of th e gir l s wou l d n ot be in vited to th eir own par ties. ?H azel eyes? Sh e doesn ?t h ave th ose. An d sh e?s th e on l y on e in h er e with l on g h air.? I gu ess th ey?d n ever con sider ed h ow l on el y th ese par ties wou l d be if th is r eal l y was h ow th ey deter m in ed wh o cou l d atten d. Th e m or e I th ou gh t abou t it, th e m or e I th ou gh t abou t h ow awfu l th e wor l d wou l d?ve been if wom en in h istor y h ad con for m ed to society. Am el ia Ear h ar t n ever wou l d?ve fl own ! Rosa Par k s wou l dn ?t h ave spar k ed th e pr otests th at l ed to th e Civil Righ ts Act! Ada Lovel ace wou l dn ?t h ave been th e fir st ever com pu ter pr ogr am m er ! (Sh e beat th e m en to it!)

L au r en M oss i s a f i f t een y ear ol d si n ger / son gw r i t er , gu i t ar i st , p i an i st , 15t h N assau Ran ger Gu i d e, an d h on ou r st u d en t . Sh e l ov es p an d as, p u r p l e, an d t h e w ay i t sm el l s af t er i t r ai n s. Sh e al so l ov es t o r ead an d w r i t e, an d r ecen t l y est abl i sh ed h er ow n p u bl i sh i n g com p an y af t er com p l et i n g t h e f i r st book i n h er f an t asy ser i es i n t h e m ak i n g.

BINDU Em power in g th e Ben gal i W om an BINDU is a you th fem in ist or gan ization wh ich is com m ittedto pr otectin g h u m an r igh ts, advocatin g wom en em power m en t, equ al ity by en su r in g gen der r espon sive pu bl ic ser vices, l ocal ization of SDGs, en abl in g qu al ity edu cation , cl im ate ju stice, safe an d h ygien ic en vir on m en t an d at th e gr assr oots l evel especial l y in th ecoastal r egion .

BINDU was for m ed by som e com m itted you n g wom en with th e pr im ar y goal to stop th e m isu se of pol yeth en e in 2011 at

KALIGABJ, Satk h ir a. H avin g gain ed som e sign ifican t ach ievem en ts, BINDU expan ded th eir activities. BINDU cam paign ed to en d ch il d m ar r iages. Ch il d m ar r iage was pr eval en t in th e Kal igan j r egion , th r ou gh dedicated activism an d advocacy Kal igan j was decl ar ed ch il d m ar r iage fr ee in 2014. To ach ieve th is goal BINDU h ad m ade a r em ar k abl e con tr ibu tion to el im in ate th e pr actice of ch il d m ar r iage.

Satk h ir a isa disaster -pr on e coastal r egion of Ban gl adesh . BINDU n oticed th at wom en an d

ch il dr en ar e bein g affected sign ifican tl y as a vu l n er abl e gr ou p of society becau se of cl im ate ch an ge. Ban gl adesh is extr em el y vu l n er abl e to th e effects of cl im ate ch an ge.

Var iou s pr obl em s in cl u din g r ape, dom estic viol en ce, dowr y, sexu al h ar assm en t, social discr im in ation ar e al so big issu es affectin g wom en an d gir l s in th e r egion . BINDU focu sed th eir effor ts on br in gin g social ch an ge on th e above-m en tion ed issu es.

BINDU cam paign s again stpatr iar ch y an d th e str u ctu r al cau ses of th e stated issu es.Th e effor ts of ten year s of cam paign in g h as m ade BINDU a pr om in en t you n g fem in ist or gan isation of th e coastal r egion as wel l as Ban gl adesh Satk h ir a is a coastal bel t ar ea of th e sou th er n side of Ban gl adesh . Th is distr ict is al so situ ated in on e of th e l ar gest m an gr ove for ests in th e wor l d cal l ed Su n der ban s. In th e past, Su n der ban s h ave pr otected l ife fr om differ en t disaster s. Bu t in th e l ast on e h u n dr ed year s th e for est h as been destr oyed by peopl e. If I wer e to descr ibe th e l ast ten -year l ife of th e com m u n ity, ever y year a cycl on e h as affected th is distr ict. Cycl on e Sidr to Am ph an , Ail a to Bu l bu l , th e disaster did n ot en d in a sin gl e tim e. Ever y year it affects an d destr oys th eir l ast asset. In th is cl im ate cr isis wom en an d ch il dr en ar e bein g sign ifican tl y im pacted.

Peopl e wh o h ave l ost th eir l an d an d h ave n oth in g to do becau se of th e im pacts h ave gon e t to th e city. Th ey go to th e capital city or oth er distr ict for an oth er wor k . Som e peopl e wen t per m an en tl y, with th e m ajor ity wor k in g asRick sh aw pu l l er s an d day l abor er s.

Som e peopl e fin dseason al wor k at th e br ick k il n an d tea pl an tation s . Som e wom en go to th e gar m en ts an d factor y in du str ies.

Th e COVID-19 pan dem ic h as l ed to m an y of th ese in du str ies cl osed u n der l ock down . Al l com m u n ication is h in der ed becau se peopl e can n ot go ou tside.

Th is h as l ed to m an y peopl e facin g h u n ger becau se of th e food cr isis.

W h en BINDU becam e awar e th at disease ou tbr eak s m ay tu r n in to epidem ics, we

Im age Cou tr esy: BINDU W om en Devel opm en t Or gan ization

star ted ou r awar en ess cam paign in ou r com m u n ity.W e h ad for m ed a wom an l ed em er gen cy r espon se team to tack l e th e u pcom in g cr isis. W ein itiated m u l tipl e cam paign sto r aise awar en ess th r ou gh cou r tyar d m eetin gs.Du r in g th ese session s, we dem on str ated wh at sh ou l d be don e to avoid becom in g in fected. W e al so expl ain ed h ow to wear a facem ask an d h ow to wash h an ds appr opr iatel y as wel l as h ow to m ain tain social distan cin g, fol l owin g th e gu idel in es of th e W or l d H eal th Or gan ization an d th e M in istr y of H eal th . W e al so distr ibu ted fr ee l eafl ets & poster s th at l ist th e sym ptom s, cau ses an d pr even tion m eth ods for th e vir u s in cl u din g m ik e an n ou n cem en ts. To ach ievebeh avior al ch an ge in th e bigger com m u n ity, we en gagedl ocal com m u n ity r adio `Nal ta? to m obil ize at th e gr assr oots? in or der to r each peopl e an d in for m th em with accu r ate in for m ation an d th e r igh t dir ection s.To in itiate safety & secu r ity m easu r es an d defy stigm a, we bu il t a l ocal br igade in vol vin g l ocal gover n m en t official s an d social wor k er s, titl ed`Cor on a Exper t Team ?.W e h osted a M aster Tr ain er wor k sh op cooper ation with l ocal adm in istr ation an d th e h eal th depar tm en t. Th is in itiative h as foster ed l ocal par tn er sh ip between gover n m en t & com m u n ity l eader s an d h as been effective to com bat stigm a in scien tific way.

Ban gl adesh is vu l n er abl e to im pacts of cl im ate ch an ge an d su stain abil ity is an im por tan t issu e to addr ess. W e advocate for th e r igh ts of wom en an d gir l s as wel l as su stain abl e sol u tion s.

ABOUT JANNATUL M OUW A Jan n atu l M ou wa is a you th fem in ist Activist wh o is com m itted to ach ievin g wom en ?s h u m an r igh ts, gen der equ al ity, su stain abl e devel opm en t, edu cation , an d en vir on m en t. Jan n atu l is fou n din g m em ber an d execu tive dir ector of BINDU W om en Devel opm en t Or gan ization . At an ear l y age sh e was sel ected as a h u m an r igh t defen der at Odh ik ar. Th at year sh e was al so Nom in ated as a Nation al H u m an r igh ts defen der in Nation al H u m an r igh t Com m ission . In h er wor k in g tim e, sh e figh ts in favor of th e victim an d h as ach ieved a l ot of su ccessfu l cases. H er focu s on bor der k il l in g, acid th r owin g, r ape, an d wom en viol en ce. Odh ik ar sen t h er Nepal an d Fin l an d for better l ear n in g at th e gl obal l evel . Sh e al so join ed com m u n ity Radio.

Fir st, sh e was wor k in g pr ogr am m ak in g. After a sh or t tim e, sh e got oppor tu n ities to wor k in differ en t sector s l ik e n ews, dr am a, pr ogr am , an d br oadcastin g. Th en th e au th or ities sen t h er Del h i In dr a Gan dh i Open Un iver sity for better l ear n in g. Th en sh e was pr om oted as a station M an ager. In th e h istor y of Ban gl adesh i com m u n ity Radio, sh e was sel ected as th e fir st you n gest station m an ager.H er or gan ization , BINDU W om en Devel opm en t Or gan ization is a m em ber of th e Nation Gen der M on itor in g com m ittee on e of 11 or gan ization s al l over th e cou n tr y cr eated by UN W om en Ban gl adesh .

Ananke Girl Summit Part ner | Collaborat or Advert orials - Info

Jan e Good al l ?s Root s & Sh oot s UAE i s gr ow i n g!

Becom e p ar t of t h e m ov em en t !

Jan e Goodal l ?s Roots & Sh oots m ovem en t began in Dar es Sal aam , Tan zan ia wh en twel ve Tan zan ian h igh sch ool stu den ts wen t to discu ss ch al l en gin g issu es with Dr. Jan e: W h y wasn ?t th e gover n m en t tak in g action again st poach in g in th e n ation al par k s an d th e il l egal dyn am ite fish in g th at was destr oyin g cor al r eefs? W h at cou l d be don e to h el p h om el ess str eet ch il dr en an d th e il l tr eatm en t of dom estic an im al s an d m an y m or e. Sh e su ggested th ey get togeth er with oth er con cer n ed stu den ts an d discu ss wh at cou l d be don e.Th u s, Roots & Sh oots was bor n .

Today, it is a gl obal n etwor k of you n g peopl e wh o becom e in vol ved in h an ds-on pr ojects of th eir ch oosin g, to m ak e th in gs better for peopl e, an im al s, an d th e en vir on m en t.

Roots & Sh oots is official l y l au n ch ed in Abu Dh abi by Dr Jan e Goodal l - Dr Jan e with Al M u n a Sch ool at Roots & Sh oots Awar ds, ph oto cr edit Roots & Sh oots UAE

Ph otos sou r ce Roots & Sh oots UAE

Th er e ar e n ow over 7,000gr oupsactive in som e 65 cou n tr ies, with m em ber s fr om pr e-sch ool th r ou gh u n iver sity - an d som e am on g adu l ts. An dth er e ar e th e al u m n i, m an y of wh om ar e in r espon sibl e position s today, an d wh o r em ain com m itted to th e val u es th ey acqu ir ed wh en th ey wer e m em ber s.

Th e in dividu al effor ts of th ou san ds of you th ar e m ak in g m on u m en tal ch an ge.

W ith an over al l th em e of l ear n in g to l ive in peace an d h ar m on y with an im al s, th e en vir on m en t an d each oth er th ey l ear n tor espectoth er s an d br eak down bar r ier s

Cr an l eigh , Abu Dh abi, Legacy Gar den - A Jou r n ey of H ead, H ear t an d H an d - Legacy Gar den offical open in g, r u bbon cu ttin g, ph oto cr edit Cr an l eigh Abu Dh abi

between n ation s, r el igion s, cu l tu r es, ol d an d you n g, r ich an d poor , an d between h u m an s an d th e n atu r al wor l d. An d th ey u n der stan d th atever yin dividu al h as a r ol e to pl ay an d m ak es a differ en ceever y day, Pr ojects su ch as pl an tin g tr ees, gr owin g or gan ic vegetabl es, vol u n teer in g in an im al sh el ter s, r aisin g m on ey for ear th qu ak e victim s, an d or gan izin g cam paign s to r aise awar en ess abou t var iou s issu es of con cer n .

Dr. Jan e Goodal l gives a l ectu r e at UAEU

Roots & Sh oots 2n d UAE Awar ds, Dr Jan e with stu den ts fr om Al M u sh r if Sch ool , ph oto cr edit Roots & Sh oots UAE

Execu tive Dir ector Tar a Gol sh an at th e Am er ican Com m u n ity Sch ool ph oto cr edit Roots & Sh oots UAE

Dr Jan e?s vision is for a cr itical m ass of you n g peopl e with sh ar ed val u es wh o wil l be teach er s, par en ts, l egisl ator s, bu sin ess l eader s, doctor s an d so on . Som e al r eady ar e.On e m em ber of th e or igin al gr ou p of twel ve su m s it u p,?I k n ow th at wh er ever I go in th e wor l d, even if I k n ow n o on e, if th er e is a R&S gr ou p, I h ave fou n d m y fam il y?.

On e of Dr Jan e?s m ain r eason s for h ope is th e en er gy, com m itm en t an d deter m in ation of you n g peopl e on ce th ey u n der stan d th e pr obl em s an d ar e em power ed to wor k ou t sol u tion s an dtake action. ?It?s n ot ju st th at th eycanm ak e a differ en ce ? th eyar em ak in g a differ en ce.? Sh e says.? Today m or e an d m or eyou n g peopl e ar e pr ovin g th at th ey wil l be better stewar ds of ou r pl an et th an we h ave been .

Ou r pr ogr am m e in th e UAEstar ted in 2014 an d n ow th er e ar e over 100 gr ou ps ? fr om Pr im ar y an d Secon dar y Sch ool s to H om esch ool er s.Th ey h ave u n der tak en m an ypr ojectsto h el p an im al s, th e en vir on m en t an d th eir com m u n ities ? fr om r aisin g awar en ess abou t sin gl e pl astic u se to r ecycl in g; fr om savin g en er gy to tak in g cl im ate action ; fr om pl an tin g tr ees, fr u its an d vegetabl es to cr eatin g r eu sabl e bags an d cl oth in g to n am e ju st a few! W e pr ovide th em with r egu l ar an d r el evan tfr ee r esou r cesan d m an y oppor tu n ities th r ou gh ou r var iou s par tn er sh ips acr oss th e UAE! Tar a Gol sh an , ou r Execu tive Dir ector , Edu cation says:?Our UAE Roots & Shoots pr ogr am m e is one of our m ost exciting flagship pr ogr am m es in the wor ld as it dem onstr ates how r esour ceful our young m em ber s ar e in cr eating solutions for our planet in som e of the m ost challenging planetar y conditions?.

If you ar e a teach er / edu cator , pl ease con tact u s atm r h @ u ae.r ootsan dsh oots.com m u n ityan d becom e par t of th e Roots & Sh oots UAE an d Gl obal fam il y!

For m or e in for m ation pl ease visith ttps:/ / u ae.r ootsan dsh oots.com m u n ity

Littl e Sm ar ties Nu r ser y,ch il dr en h el pin g in th e Gr een Gar den , ph oto cr edit Littl e Sm ar ties Nu r ser y

CBS TEAM

Abou t Th e Cen tr e for Bu sin ess an d Society (CBS) is a m u l tidiscipl in ar y, in cl u sive, an d r espon sive pl atfor m th at br in gs effor ts an d con ver sation s at th e in ter section of bu sin ess an d society on to a wider stage of in fl u en ce. Th e cen tr e en gages with a m yr iad of diver se gr ou ps in cl u din g bu sin ess, gover n m en t, pol icy m ak er s, civil society, pr actition er s, an d th e academ ic com m u n ity to con tr ibu te to sol vin g today?s bu sin ess an d societal ch al l en ges. CBS foster s k n owl edge exch an ge between a diver se set of au dien ce to col l abor ate an d wor k towar ds a col l ective goal : r eth in k in g th e r ol e of bu sin esses for su stain abl e societies. To ach ieve th is, th e cen tr e br in gs for th a spectr u m of activities wh ich r an ges fr om tr ain in gs, con fer en ces, edu tain m en t even ts an d stu den t com petition s to pol icy discu ssion s, debates, an d speak er session s.

I n t er n at i on al Con f er en ces:

In ter n ation al W om en ?s Day

2017- Gen der , W or k an d Society: Ch al l en ges, Oppor tu n ities an d Pr ospects for W om en ?s Econ om ic Devel opm en t

Sp eak er s Sessi on s:

2018- Cr eatin g In cl u sive Or gan ization al an d Pu bl ic Spaces 2019- Gen der , W or k an d Leader sh ip: Br in gin g togeth er Fem in ist an d Postcol on ial In sigh ts 2021- Gen der , W or k an d Society - Fu tu r e of Equ al ities, Diver sities, an d In cl u sion (EDI) in Sou th Asia an d Beyon d Resear ch : Facu l ty Resear ch Stu den t Resear ch Ser ies Tr ai n i n gs: 252? Tr ain in gs Con du cted 2000? In dividu al s Tr ain ed 4000? M an ager s Tr ain ed St EP: St u d en t En gagem en t Pr ogr am m e: CBS h as a ser ies of pr ogr am m es th at focu s on wider stu den t en gagem en t at LUM S. 60TCF al u m n i en r ol l ed an d20LUM S Stu den ts Vol u n teer to teach Am bassador for Ch an ge Pr ogr am m e 03- In ter n sh ips 02- Stu den t Com petition s 02- Stu den t Awar en ess Pr ogr am m e Ed u t ai n m en t Ev en t s: CBS br in gs for th a var iety of Edu -tain m en t even ts, wh ich ar e even ts based on a spectr u m of per tin en t social issu es, pu r posefu l l y design ed to edu cate th e au dien ces th r ou gh var iou s for m s of en ter tain m en t.

- In au gu r ation of th e Cen tr e for Bu sin ess an d Society an d A pl ay on viol en ce again st wom en , by Ajok a Th eatr e titl ed 'Bar r i' - It is Ever yon e?s Bu sin ess, Per iod: H eal th , H ygien e, an d th e M en str u al Taboo - Lau n ch of Au tobiogr aph y by M r s.

Per win Babar Al i an d SDSB Book Stor e Lau n ch - Pak istan i Voices fr om th e M ar gin : Pan el Tal k on Rel igiou s Diver sity an d Gospel Con cer t by th e Leo Twin s - M u sical

Even in g to Com m em or ate

03? Gover n an ce Lectu r e Ser ies 02? Speak er Session s 01? Tal k

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