Understanding Girls' Rights Violations: An Introduction
A hub that empowers girls to work on issues affecting them locally, nationally and globally.
Published 1st June, 2023
Girls' rights are fundamental human rights that are often violated due to gender-based discrimination and cultural practices that perpetuate gender inequality. These violations undermine the dignity, health, education, and safety of girls, and pose significant barriers to their personal development, social mobility, and economic empowerment. Understanding the nature and extent of girls' rights violations is essential in promoting gender equality and creating a world where girls can thrive.
In our first blog, we at Girls Human Rights Hub will explore some of the key rights violations endured by girls today.
Education
Education is a fundamental right for all children, yet girls disproportionately experience barriers to education. Discrimination, poverty, child marriage, and cultural norms often prevent girls from accessing quality education. According to UNESCO, around 130 million girls between the ages of 6 and 17 are out of school globally. Denying girls education perpetuates cycles of poverty and limits their potential to contribute fully to society.
In focus:
In Afghanistan, girls face significant challenges in accessing education due to various socio-cultural factors and ongoing conflicts. The Taliban's oppressive regime in the past limited girls' access to education, banning them from attending school altogether. Although progress has been made since then, girls still encounter numerous barriers such as poverty, child marriage, insecurity, and cultural norms that prioritize boys' education over girls'. According to UNICEF, nearly 3.7 million school-aged girls in Afghanistan are out of school, depriving them of opportunities for personal growth, empowerment, and future economic independence
Niger, a West African country, also faces substantial obstacles when it comes to girls' education. Deep-rooted gender disparities, early marriage, and high fertility rates contribute to low levels of girls' education. The practice of early marriage remains prevalent, with more than 75% of girls being married before the age of 18. These early marriages often result in early pregnancies, which further hinder girls' access to education. Poverty and limited infrastructure exacerbate the challenges, making it difficult for girls, especially those in rural areas, to attend school regularly and receive a quality education.
Child Marriage
Child marriage remains a significant violation of girls' rights, affecting millions of young girls worldwide. Forced into early marriages, girls are robbed of their childhood, denied education, and exposed to health risks associated with early pregnancies. Child marriage reinforces gender inequalities and hinders social and economic development in affected communities.
In focus:
In Bangladesh, child marriage continues to be a prevalent issue, with one of the highest rates in the world. According to UNICEF, more than 50% of girls in Bangladesh are married before the age of 18, and about 18% are married before the age of 15. Factors such as poverty, limited access to education, cultural norms, and societal pressure contribute to the persistence of child marriage. Efforts to combat child marriage in Bangladesh involve raising awareness, empowering girls through education, and implementing legal reforms.
Violence and Exploitation
Girls are subjected to various forms of violence, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Gender-based violence, human trafficking, female genital mutilation (FGM), and sexual exploitation are just a few examples of the violations girls face. These heinous acts not only cause immediate harm but also have long-term physical, psychological, and social consequences, hindering girls' overall well-being and potential.
In focus:
Gender-based Violence in India
India grapples with high levels of gender-based violence, including sexual assault, domestic violence, and dowry-related violence. Girls in India face the risk of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, often perpetuated by family members, intimate partners, or strangers. Instances such as acid attacks, rape, and honor killings highlight the severity of violence against girls in the country. The long-term consequences of such violence include physical injuries, psychological trauma, and social stigma, impeding girls' ability to thrive and reach their full potential.
Human Trafficking in Thailand
Thailand serves as a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking, with girls being particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Many girls, often from marginalized communities, are trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labor, or child marriage. They are subjected to physical and sexual abuse, coercion, and deprivation of their fundamental rights. The trauma experienced by these girls has a lasting impact on their mental and emotional well-being, hindering their ability to reintegrate into society and access opportunities for education and employment.
Female genital mutilation (FGM) in Somalia
Somalia has one of the highest prevalence rates of female genital mutilation (FGM) globally. This harmful practice involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia and has severe physical and psychological consequences. Girls in Somalia are subjected to FGM at a young age, often without their consent, exposing them to pain, infection, and long-term health complications. FGM perpetuates gender inequality, reinforces harmful cultural norms, and limits girls' bodily autonomy and overall well-being.
Sexual Exploitation of Girls in Brazil
Brazil faces significant issues related to the sexual exploitation of girls, particularly in vulnerable communities and urban areas. Factors such as poverty, inequality, and organized crime contribute to the exploitation of girls through commercial sexual exploitation, child prostitution, and trafficking for sexual purposes. Girls are often forced into these situations due to economic circumstances or manipulation by traffickers and exploiters. Such exploitation exposes them to physical and psychological harm, jeopardizing their safety, education, and future prospects.
Discrimination and Gender Inequality
Deep-rooted gender biases and discrimination limit girls' opportunities and perpetuate inequalities. Gender-based discrimination manifests in various forms, such as restricted access to resources, lower wages, limited political participation, and stereotyping. Girls face additional challenges based on intersecting factors such as race, ethnicity, religion, disability, and socio-economic status, compounding the violations they endure.
In focus: Gender pay gap in the United States
The gender pay gap in the United States is a prime example of gender-based discrimination that affects girls and women throughout their lives. Despite strides made in promoting gender equality, women continue to face lower wages compared to their male counterparts. On average, women in the United States earn around 82 cents for every dollar earned by men, with the gap widening further for women of color.
Health and Reproductive Rights
Girls often face inadequate access to healthcare services, particularly regarding sexual and reproductive health. Lack of information, early pregnancies, maternal mortality, and limited access to contraception contribute to their vulnerability. In some societies, harmful practices such as child pregnancy, early motherhood, and denial of reproductive rights perpetuate a cycle of oppression, impacting girls' physical and mental well-being.
In focus:
Teenage Pregnancy in Guatemala
Guatemala has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in Latin America. Many girls in Guatemala face early pregnancies due to factors such as limited access to comprehensive sexuality education, cultural norms, poverty, and lack of contraception. Early pregnancies often result in negative health outcomes for both mother and child, including increased risks of maternal mortality, low birth weight, malnutrition, and limited educational opportunities for the young mothers.
Conclusion
Addressing the rights violations faced by girls requires collective action from governments, communities, civil society organizations, and individuals. Efforts must focus on eliminating barriers to education, ending child marriage, eradicating violence and exploitation, promoting gender equality, and ensuring comprehensive healthcare and reproductive rights for girls. Empowering girls not only benefits them individually but also promotes social progress, economic growth, and the realization of a more just and equitable world.
We at Girls Human Rights Hub believe that through recognizing and addressing the violations of girls' rights, we can pave the way for a future where all girls can flourish, contributing their talents and skills to create a brighter world for generations to come.