By Erica Oakley, Humanitas Global Development
As the world celebrates the first-ever International Day of the Girl, it is time to focus on how we can ensure that girls around the world become healthy, educated and prosperous women. We know that girls are often marginalized by society and that violence against girls is pervasive. We also know that crimes against girls frequently go unpunished or ignored. We know that girls are more affected by disease and poverty than boys, and that in many cultures, girls are considered a burden to the family – creating a cyclical effect of marginalization and violence.
The picture is not entirely bleak. Girls are not weak or passive. They have a voice and many are fearless advocates of their rights. Girls such as 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai are role models for exhibiting tremendous courage and strength – even in the face of violent groups such as the Taliban. We often see headlines of girls being attacked for standing up against child marriage, sexual assault, female-genital mutilation – or most recently, Malala’s crusade for girls educational rights.
Educating a girl is perhaps the single, most effective way to improve not only her own life, but also those of her entire family and future generations. Statistics have shown that educating a girl has a ripple effect in society. An educated girl is less likely to get married at a young age and is more likely to have healthy birth spacing and healthier children. She (and her child) are also less likely to succumb to the high rates of maternal and child mortality which plague much of the developing world. An educated girl is more likely to adequately provide for herself and her immediate and extended families. An education can provide a girl with ambition, hope, desire and ensure that she has the knowledge and tools to take charge and better her life.
However, to create this environment of change is nearly impossible for a girl to do on her own. She needs the support and assistance of her family and community. She needs society to change – to put girls' education at the forefront of government agendas and for individuals to realize the benefits of educating a girl. Education is a huge catalyst for a country's economic and social development. Societies where girls are violently targeted because of their desire to educate themselves and better their lives, are going to be societies left behind.
