International Day of the Girl Child 11 October

 

International Day of the Girl Child
11 October

My Voice, Our Equal Future

The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years, but also as they mature into women. If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world – both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders. An investment in realising the power of adolescent girls upholds their rights today and promises a more equitable and prosperous future, one in which half of humanity is an equal partner in solving the problems of climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention, and global sustainability.

Girls are breaking boundaries and barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion, including those directed at children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities. As entrepreneurs, innovators and initiators of global movements, girls are creating a world that is relevant for them and future generations.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in 2015, embody a roadmap for progress that is sustainable and leaves no one behind. Achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is integral to each of the 17 goals. Only by ensuring the rights of women and girls across all the goals will we get to justice and inclusion, economies that work for all, and sustaining our shared environment now and for future generations.The gender digital divide in connectivity, devices and use, skills and jobs is real. It is an inequity and exclusion gap across geographies and generations that is our challenge to address if the digital revolution is to be for all, with all, by all. Let’s seize the momentum to drive action and accountability of GEF commitments made, for and with girls to achieve a bold vision of bridging the digital gender divide.

Digital generation. Our generation.

Girls know their digital realities and the solutions they need to excel on their diverse pathways as technologists for freedom of expression, joy, and boundless potential. Let’s amplify the diversity of these tech trailblazers while simultaneously widening the pathways so that every girl, this generation of girls – regardless of race, gender, language, ability, economic status and geographic origin – lives their full potential.

Empowering women and girls and promoting gender equality is crucial to accelerating sustainable development. Ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right, but it also has a multiplier effect across all other development areas.

Did you know?

• The global internet user gender gap is growing, from 11 per cent in 2013 to 17 per cent in 2019, and widest in the world’s least developed countries at 43 per cent.

• 2.2 billion people below the age of 25 do not have internet access at home, with girls more likely to be cut off.

• Globally, the percentage of females among Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) graduates is below 15 per cent in over two-thirds of countries.

• And in middle and higher-income countries, only 14 per cent of girls who were top performers in science or mathematics expected to work in science and engineering compared to 26 per cent of top-performing boys. 

In 2021 we commemorate the Generation Equality Forum (GEF), launching 5-year commitments from civil society leaders, governments, corporations and change makers from around the world for bold gender equality impacts. At the same time, we are in the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has accelerated digital platforms for learning, earning and connecting, while also highlighting girls’ diverse digital realities.The gender digital divide in connectivity, devices and use, skills and jobs is real. It is an inequity and exclusion gap across geographies and generations that is our challenge to address if the digital revolution is to be for all, with all, by all. Let’s seize the momentum to drive action and accountability of GEF commitments made, for and with girls to achieve a bold vision of bridging the digital gender divide.

Source: UN

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11th October International Day of the Girl

The world is home to more than 1.1 billion girls under age 18, who are poised to become the largest generation of female leaders, entrepreneurs and change-makers the world has ever seen.

My Voice, Our Equal Future

Progress for adolescent girls has not kept pace with the realities they face today, and COVID-19 has reinforced many of these gaps. This year, under the theme, “My Voice, Our Equal Future”, let’s seize the opportunity to be inspired by what adolescent girls see as the change they want, the solutions- big and small- they are leading and demanding across the globe.

In 2020, we commemorate 25 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the global agenda for advancing the rights and empowerment of women and girls, everywhere. Generation Equality was also launched in early 2020 as a multi-year, multi-partner campaign and movement for bold action on gender equality. A clear narrative and actions related to the needs and opportunities of adolescent girls and their solutions is central to the Generation Equality mission.

As adolescent girls worldwide assert their power as change-makers, International Day of the Girl 2020 will focus on their demands to:

Live free from gender-based violence, harmful practices, and HIV and AIDS  

Learn new skills towards the futures they choose  

Lead as a generation of activists accelerating social change

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GIRL CHILD EDUCATION !

      GIRL CHILD EDUCATION-Pooja Sarkar 

Every day, girls face barriers to education caused by poverty, cultural norms and practices, poor infrastructure, violence and fragility. Therefore, here at HEEALS, GIRLS’ EDUCATION is a priority.

“Education is one thing no one can take away from you”- Elin Nordegren . Also, as rightly said in the African proverb, ‘‘if you educate a man, you educate an individual. But if you educate a woman, you educate a nation.”

Girls’ education goes beyond getting girls into school, it is ensuring that girls learn and feel safe while in the school. Education is the key for women to achieve economic independence. It is also ensuring that girl child complete all levels of education with the rightful skills necessary to navigate and adapt to the changing world. That the education give them the freedom of making their own rightful decisions about their life and also contribute to the communities and the world.

Although women in the majority of countries have the right to education, the problem lies in the equal access to education. In many developing countries, millions of women do not complete their education because they are forced by their society, by their circumstances or by the threat of violence to focus on household or care giving. Better educated women tend to be healthier, earn higher incomes and participative. They enable better education for their children and better health care. All these factors combined can lift not only their households but also their communities and the nations out of poverty and social norms.

HEEALS is a Non Profit Organization which aims to safeguard health, environment, education and livelihood to promote sustainable development of society. Poverty remains the most important factor for determining whether a girl can access an education. Studies show that girls who face multiple disadvantages such as low family income, living in remote areas or locations, disability due to belongingness to a minority group , are the farthest behind in terms of access to completion of education. These factors affect negatively in the access of education. Another example is Child Marriage which is also a critical challenge. Child brides are more likely to drop out of schools and look after the family. This affects the education and health of the children as well as their ability to earn a living. There are many reports showing that around 40000 girls under the age of 18 years get married every day. This should be put to an end to increase women’s expected education attainment and their earnings.

Every day Girls face barriers to education due to many reasons caused by poverty, cultural norms, poor infrastructure, and many more reasons we are unheard of. HEEALS with its volunteers and interns from different regions are working together with girls and women and through the medium of Documentary films and art is trying to create awareness among the masses about girl child education , menstrual hygiene , sanitation and safe drinking water and trying to relate how girl child education id also directly related to poor sanitation facilities, unsafe drinking water and lack of knowledge to obtain the same.

HEEALS relies on our generous sponsors and donors in order to be able to run our workshops and provide the facilities. If you are interested in providing financial support for our projects and  workshops and to know more about projects like our ‘Pads for Girls’ project, please connect with communications@heeals.org. You can also support girls in menstruation and eduaction by talking and creating awareness among them. Also, create awareness among your families, friends and neighbours.

Here at HEEALS, projects focus on Targeting boys and men to be a part of discussions about cultural and social practices and ending child/ early marriage and addressing violence against girls and women.

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DONATORS LOCATED IN INDIA

Account Number: 002101200566

Bank: ICICI 

Address: ICICI, Gurgaon Branch

Sco-18 & 19 Sector -14, Huda Shopping Center, Gurgaon -122001                   

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The Workhouse Legacy – Child rag pickers during COVID 19

The Workhouse Legacy – Child rag pickers during COVID 19

-          -Vaishnavi K N

COVID – 19 has plunged the world into a crisis of unprecedented magnitude and scope. Health crisis occupies the forefront, but we cannot ignore the massive impact on the economy and society on the whole. These impacts will not be spread uniformly across the world. Vulnerable communities across the world will be the worst affected by the immediate and secondary repercussions of the pandemic. Now more than ever we need to ensure our children are safe

On June 12^th every year, we observe Anti Child Labor Day. The theme of World Against Child Labor 2020 is "Protect children from child labour, now more than ever". This year saw ILO, UNICEF and many other organizations move their campaigns online. The virtual campaign drew attention to the need to generate an environment for children to grow and live a dignified life and also to fight against child labor throughout the world.According to ILO, 152 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 were in child labour, almost half of them, 73 million, in hazardous child labour.

The statistics are staggering. Our reaction and response are inadequate.

This brings us to the question of ‘what is child labor?’ According to the International Labour Organisation, child labour is "work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity and that is harmful to physical and mental health". ILO also says that child labour is any type of work that has physical, mental and social consequences on the children and damages them in any way. It can be:

·         Work that deprives the children of the opportunity to attend school

·         Work that forced a child to leave school at an early age

·         Work that requires children to attend school but with the heavy workload.

Let us get to know this better by looking into the informal waste management sector in India, you may know them better as ‘rag pickers’.Waste picking is a labour-intensive informal sector, severely lacking in health facilities, safety and legal cover. Waste pickers collect garbage in search of recyclable items that can be sold to scrap dealers. And this often “employs” the most vulnerable sections of society. Women and children from marginalized communities make up large sections of the informal sector. An ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry) of India study in 2014 estimated that over 4.5 Lakh child labourers are involved in ragpicking. These numbers have steadily risen over the years.

Household and municipal waste has evolved to contain highly toxic and hazardous materials. In India, waste segregation at source in non-existent, and all of the waste finds its way into landfills, which are not scientifically engineered (there are material recovery facilities and refuse driven fuel plants but not enough to cater to the needs of all Indian metropolises). These dismal mountains of waste cause infectious diseases attract flies and other vectors apart from being prone to fire hazard. An added risk is the exposure to and incorrect handling of electronic waste. Waste pickers provide services that benefit the environment yet face harrowing occupational hazards and are exposed to toxins in the absence of protective gear. This risk becomes more pronounced during the pandemic. This is where these 4.5 lakh children are employed. Child waste pickers face added threat from abusers, traffickers and lower wages than their adult counterparts.

Child labour (prohibition and regulation) act 1986, and the amendment of 2016 is the legal framework that exists in India to check child labour. The law has faced criticism on grounds of allowing children above 14 years to be employed (not 18), and the 2016 amendment allows children to be employed in family business, which can prove to be counterproductive. The law becomes futile here as there are no ‘visible employers’ in the informal sector who can be held accountable and penalized for violation of the 1986 act.  An effective and efficient solid waste management system is required to deal with the problems faced by child waste pickers. This is why community at large has an important role in mobilising public opinion against waste picking. Also perhaps it is time to redefine the existing framework.

A two pronged approach is required to tackle child labour effectively – on the demand side and the supply side. Corporate initiatives can deal with the demand side, but social policy intervention is required to deal with the supply side. Consequently, corporations need to move beyond legal obligations and adopt social responsibility measures to successfully prevent children from entering the workforce.

Support HEEALS, We have a mandate of empowering local and rural communities to become sustainable in Health, Education, Environment and Livelihood Society sectors through engaging workshops, resources distribution and content creation.

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Kindly Donate To Sustain Our Work In Corona Pandemic

Donation Details Are Below

DONATORS LOCATED IN INDIA

Account Number: 002101200566

Bank: ICICI 

Address: ICICI, Gurgaon Branch

Sco-18 & 19 Sector -14, Huda Shopping Center, Gurgaon -122001                   

RTGS/NEFT IFSC CODE: ICIC0000021

INTERNATIONAL DONATORS

Please email: communications@heeals.org

FIGHT AGAINST CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION (CSE)

FIGHT AGAINST CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION (CSE)  

In simple terms, Sexual exploitation is an act or acts committed through non-consensual abuse or exploitation of another person’s sexuality for the purpose of sexual gratification, financial gain, personal benefit or advantage, or any other non-legitimate purpose.

The act or acts of sexual exploitation are STRICTLY PROHIBITED by law.

WHAT  DOES CHILD  EXPLOITATION  LOOK  LIKE?

Child sexual exploitation is a type of sexual abuse. When a child or young person is exploited they're given things, like gifts, drugs, money, status and affection, in exchange for performing sexual activities. Children and young people are often tricked into believing they're in a loving and consensual relationship. This is called grooming. They may trust their abuser and not understand that they're being abused.

Children and young people can be trafficked to be sexually exploited. Sometimes abusers use violence and intimidation to frighten or force a child or young person, making them feel as if they've no choice. Anybody can be a perpetrator of exploitation, no matter their age, gender or race. Children and young people who are exploited may also be used to 'find' or coerce others to join groups.

SIGNS OF CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

• Unhealthy or inappropriate sexual behavior

• Being frightened of some people, places or situations.
• Bring secretive.
• Sharp changes in mood or character.
• Having money or things they can't or won't explain.
• Physical signs of abuse, like bruises or bleeding in their genital or anal area.
• Alcohol or drug misuse
• Sexually transmitted infections.
• Pregnancy.
• going missing for periods of time or regularly returning home late
• skipping school or being disruptive in class
• Experiencing health problems that may indicate a sexually transmitted infection.

  IF A CHILD REPORTS ABUSE

If a child talks to you about sexual exploitation it's important to:

• listen carefully to what they're saying
• let them know they've done the right thing by telling you
• tell them it's not their fault
• say you'll take them seriously
• don't confront the alleged abuser
• explain what you'll do next
• report what the child has told you as soon as possible.

EFFECTS OF CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

Both sexual exploitation in person and online can have long-term effects on a child or young person. They may:

• struggle with trust and be fearful of forming new relationships
• become isolated from family and friends
• fail exams or drop out of education
• become pregnant at a young age
• experience unemployment
• have mental health problems
• make suicide attempts
• abuse alcohol and drugs
• take part in criminal behavior
• Experience homelessness.

REPORTING SEXUAL ABUSE

Increased attention in the activism around child protection led to the Government of India passing the ‘The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO)’ law in 2012. This act criminalizes a range of acts including rape, harassment, and exploitation for pornography involving a child below 18 years of age and mandates the setting up of Special Courts to expedite trials of these offences. A complaint can be filed under this act and immediate action will be taken.  

PREVENTING CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

Following are some steps that can be taken to spread awareness among children regarding sexual exploitation:

1.      Teach children and young people about healthy relationships and how to stay safe online can help prevent sexual exploitation. These foundations can be laid from a young age.

2.      Make sure children and young people know there are trusted adults they can speak to about their worries.

3.       Helping children to understand their bodies and sex in a way that is appropriate for their age

4.      Developing an open and trusting relationship, so they feel they can talk to you about anything

5.      Explaining the difference between safe secrets (such as a surprise party) and unsafe secrets (things that make them unhappy or uncomfortable)

6.      Teaching children to respect family boundaries, such as privacy in sleeping, dressing and bathing

7.      Teaching them self-respect and how to say no

8.      Supervising internet, mobile and television use

-Written By Tvisha 

Say No To Child Labour !

“Only the worst thief can steal someone’s   childhood”.  They call it best phase of life. They call it childhood for the rest it is just chide hood. The pain behind the statement can be felt by every child found working in homes,hotels,factories and all possible places where they can be exploited.

A school boy once complained “If child labour is a crime then why does our teacher gives us homework?”. What about those who will never get a chance to see the face of a school in their entire lifetime, who are sold into the hands of their masters even before they understand the ways of the world. These young soldiers are sent to war even without proper equipment.

Sitting in our well-furnished houses we often complain that child labour exists, no strict laws are implemented by government to curb this crime and at the next moment we walk into a local restaurant where a small boy comes to clean our table. What do we do then? Crib about government not implementing ban and we continue eating. Imagine what can happen if we refuse to eat at such places. Change should start from us. 

It is however important to realize that child labour cannot be fully abolished in page of India where one child is the sole breadwinner of his page of family. Although it is most undesirable where a child has to work rather than go to school, denying option of working to him would be even more disastrous and might force the child into illegal activities for survival. A child activist correctly remarked “Teach him to chop an onion before he learns to chop a head.” Next time when you happen to find any child labour case prevailing in your area try to find out the reason. Help them get back the most beautiful phase of their life – childhood.

Written By – Priyanka Dalmia

We Are All Equal !

And though she be but little, she is fierce.” – William Shakespeare

It is ironical that we worship many female Goddesses at various festivals however when it comes to women living in our home we don’t really give them the same amount of respect and care that they deserve. In the Indian rural landscape, girls are generally deprived of even the most basic facilities (such as proper nutrition, education, lifestyle etc.) in their family because of the superiority of boy child. In the Indian society, boys are given higher importance than that of girls in terms of healthcare and nutrition. One of the major issues facing India’s girls and women is the high death toll of gender discrimination, both prenatally and postnatally. We kill them before they get to see the light of day or do not care for them after their birth without even realizing how we will get a daughter, sister, wife or mother in future. Has anyone ever pondered as to what will happen if women deny to be pregnant, give birth to a baby or give up all the responsibilities of their motherhood. If not; then why are girls killed, why are they considered to be a curse, why are they regarded as a burden to their parents or society. Why are such eye-opening questions still not answered?

To solve this pressing issue, the Govt. of India has launched several initiatives to save the Girl Child and curb the menace of female infanticide. One such campaign is “BetiBachao, BetiPadhao”(Save the daughter, educate the daughter).It aims to generate awareness and improve the efficiency of welfare services intended for girls in India.It addresses the issue of the declining child sex ratio image.

The objectives of this initiative are:

·         Prevention of gender biased sex selective elimination

·         Ensuring survival & protection of the girl child

·         Ensuring education and participation of the girl child

·         Bridge the sex-ratio gap

To know more about this campaign visit:https://wcd.nic.in/bbbp-schemes

To contribute towards this social cause,time and again HEEALS has come up with various activities to support girl child .

Few of the activities undertaken are:

·         Organised  workshops In Uttar Pradesh Schoolson “Stop Child Marriage”&“Save Girl”&“Educate Girl”.

·         HEEALS spearheaded their campaign “Hand Wash and Menstrual Hygiene” using various innovative and interesting activities to explain the importance of hygiene practices. Till now, we have targeted six schools and 1050 students in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh and Gurgaon, Haryana, India between the age group 10-14 years studying in classes 5th – 9th.

·         Through The Medium of Documentary Film like –“The Curse” we are trying to create Awareness Among the Masses about Girl Child Education , Menstrual Hygiene, Sanitation and Safe Drinking Water .

Link for documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iRlngOAsxo

·         HEEALS organises menstrual hygiene management workshops and ‘Pads for Girls’ project which provides girls with a healthier and safer alternative: the sanitary pad.

· Through spreading education on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and organizing WASH and MH workshop, HEEALS is working to increase the attendance rates of girls in schools who drop out from school due to their period and improve self-confidence of girls in Indian society.

s    Kindly support our "Wonder Girls" Project : https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/wondergirl?fbclid=IwAR3dbqwRgdDRQU-Dp7AK24TLrVDnqTqXtOpn78fADzVC4aMvRLetrzCF_6M#/

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- Priyanka 

  Volunteer