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Laura Toto Youth Interactive Writer
In Niamey, Niger, myself and hundreds upon hundreds of African girls, young women and leaders descended for the ever anticipated biannual African Union — African Girls Summit (AGS).
As the multilingual moderator and one of the contributing speakers for some of the AU, UN Women And UNICEF chaired sessions namely the panels on culture traditions norms and opinions as well as the role of religious and community leaders (respectively) my duty was and still is to hold leadership and policy spearheads accountable (in accordance with the Accountability Framework) in educating and implementing laws and policies both established and amended to end child marriages, forced marriage, FGM (female genital mutilation) and other harmful practices (HP’s) in their individual spheres of influence.
I was impressed by the work of Our Accountability Report as Zimbabwe as we stood out amongst many nations to be one of the most active countries in eradicating the abuse, harm and stigmatisation of the girl child.
Some of the information shared at the African Union closing was in fact a reality as Zimbabwe is trying their way to empowering the girl child and ending Gender based violence with quite a bit to show for those efforts in almost every industry from Entertainment and Media to Economic and Political there is evident inclusivity.
Not to forget one of our very own girls Brooke Machingura had the honour of reading the outcome document of the summit to close the event, a major flex for this soil if you ask me!
However we still have numerous gaps both said and unsaid that require immediate and urgent attention such as rectifying the education gap created due to the pandemic and vulnerability of girls while they are forced into marriage and/or labour in the economic grumble.
One of the themes being Accelerating the Elimination of Harmful Practices, FGM, Child, Early and Forced Marriages guided by
◆ The African Charter On The Rights and Welfare Of The Child and
◆ African Charter on Human and People’s Rights On The Rights Of Women;
Having had the opportunity to cross examine His Royal Majesty King Mansour Maiguizo Kané, he highlighted progress being made in his kingdom in Niger, reversing the harmful, violent and extremist doctrinal abuse of girls through policy education of Humanity and ensuring girls rights to access of education are not infringed for any reason, especially that of cultural or religious inhibition.
Though the efforts are visible and appreciated, results thereof are the more pressing matters which are assessed through the Accountability Frame Work and interaction of stakeholders with these communities.
I had the opportunity to see with my own eyes and on my own accord how much work we still have to continue doing as a people after interacting with some of the survivors of the harmful practices we are fighting to abolish.
I saw what could have been me and any other girl on this continent. I was blessed and privileged to be surrounded by women and men especially, who have accepted it as their responsibility to empower me with ethos and principles of self respect and love, confidence and courage, but I am the one in every hundred thousand statistically and that needs to be old news as soon as realistically possible!
However I also gained an additional appreciation of the efforts of Zimbabwe’s young women and men in protecting children and push the empowerment of the girl child. Organisations such as:
Mudiwa Foundation Zimbabwe; a youth-led and child-focused NGO that focuses on Ending Sexual Violence against Children and the Gender Is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC) which focuses on Mainstreaming Gender Equality in Africa.
In her hearty, passion-filled encouragement to girls in my post panel interview with Hon. Patricia Kaliati, Minister of Gender, Community Development and Welfare of Malawi she had this to say — “You are a fire, don’t let them put you out” and I carry it over to every African girl!
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