adminMathew Masinge
Local girls’ rights activists have joined hands to form a coalition for safe and interactive platforms for girls and young women.
The coalition dubbed: “Girls Rights Collective” has seen at least 22 non-governmental organisations teaming up to share ideas on various day-to-day issues that affect the girl child.
In an interview, Girls Rights Collective, national coordinator, Chiedza Paradzayi, said their aim is to amplify the voice of the girl child.
“We are honoured to be the first Girl child led and driven coalition amplifying the voice of the girl child in Zimbabwe and beyond.
“We are proud of our senior mentors who continue to guide, provide moral support as well as technical assistance to us as a coalition as we seek to continue impacting positively the lives of every girl child in Zimbabwe and beyond.
“We strive to fully amplify the voice of the girl child local, national, regional and international level.
“We have been in existence since 2021 and we continue to strive to make sure that we reach out to all girls,” said Paradzayi.
Paradzayi said the collective effort also seeks to correct cultural practices that expose girls to abuse.
“Girl’s rights are human rights yet millions of girls continue to struggle to claim their rights.
“Historically girls have always suffered under these trails of exploitation especially sexual exploitation because in the Shona culture girls are perceived to be wives and mothers even in their infancy due to relations that are maintained traditionally.
“Cultural practices mostly expose girls to abuse as they are socialized into accepting the status quo and be custodians of the culture to which they belong to Girls however face another form of discrimination simply for being young and female,” she said.
GRC’s membership spreads across all the country’s 10 provinces and comprises of NGOs, Community Based Organisations, Faith Based Organisatios and Trust Girls Clubs.
Some of the activities lined up by the group include mentoring, skills transfer and promoting information on girls rights.
Online Reporter