100 years of Women’s Day, but girls still marginalised

 When we celebrated 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, Girls throughout the world still face ‘double discrimination’ due to both sex and age.

Women past and present have made enormous economic, political and social achievements, but much more needs to be done to enable millions of girls to reach their true potential, especially in developing countries.
Lack of opportunities and recognition for girls is one of the most pressing issues in international development.

Research has shown that investing in girls and young women has a disproportionately beneficial effect in alleviating poverty - not only for girls themselves but for their families, communities and entire countries. Girls who spend an extra year at school will on average increase their lifetime income by 10 to 20 percent.

Deepali Sood, Director of  Because I am a Girl campaign said: “Women's empowerment begins with girl’s empowerment. Breaking the cycle of gender discrimination requires that we promote and protect the rights of girls. At the same time we also need to equip them with the skills and opportunities they need to transform their lives and those of their communities.”

Simply being born a girl can leave a child at a huge disadvantage in life. In the poorest societies a girl faces greater risk of malnutrition, hunger and disease compared to her brothers. She will have fewer opportunities for an education and career. In many developing countries one out of seven girls marries before age 15.

Girls are often bundled together with women and children, with the result that their particular needs and the challenges they face at home, school and in society are neglected.

Many children suffer from violence, neglect, exploitation, discrimination and exclusion. Many, especially girls, are at risk of physical and sexual abuse at home and in school.

Here are few things that we as responsible citizes can do for child protection 

• Helping to protect child labourers, children with disabilities, children affected by conflict and disaster, street children, and children who have been trafficked or are at risk of being trafficked.
• Improving understanding of children and young people’s rights, and working with governments to strengthen legislation that protects children.
• Supporting communities to raise awareness about child protection, and to campaign against tolerance of sexual abuse, including organising local protection networks, encouraging the reporting of abuse, and monitoring the enforcement of laws guaranteeing protection.
• Working with communities to change attitudes to harmful practices such as female genital cutting and early and forced marriage.

we need to work with marginalised, socially-excluded groups, whose rights are systematically violated, and whose living conditions make them the most vulnerable.