Madam Bernice Naa, the Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Human Rights and Sustainable Development (AFSET), has emphasized the urgent need for girls to understand the laws and their rights concerning sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
Speaking to students at Nyoli Basic School as part of the Girls and Women Economic Empowerment and Leadership (GWEEL) project, Madam Naa stressed that underage marriage is not only illegal but also a violation of the fundamental human rights of young girls.
“You are a student, and you are underage—you should not allow yourself to be sexually abused,” Madam Naa told the attentive students.
“You shouldn’t marry at the age of 16,” she added, highlighting that girls need to know where to seek help if they experience any form of violation.
The engagement session, organized under the GWEEL project, aimed to empower girls with knowledge about their legal rights and the resources available to protect them. Madam Naa praised the students for actively engaging with the representative from CHRAJ, who had earlier educated them on SGBV.
Madam Naa also shed light on the Affirmative Action Law, explaining its critical role in promoting gender equality and increasing female representation in leadership.
“When decisions are being made that affect women, women must be present at the table,” she said. “If it’s only men in the room, will they talk about women’s issues or football?”
She pointed out that the Affirmative Action Law ensures that both public and private institutions are required to appoint qualified women into leadership positions.
“We now have a woman as Vice President—are you not happy?” she asked the students, who responded enthusiastically.
Madam Naa concluded by encouraging the girls to aim high and seize leadership opportunities. “When we reach 50-50, and the women are more than the men, we will focus on the men again to ensure balance,” she assured them.
The session left the students inspired and informed, reinforcing AFSET's commitment to empowering young girls and promoting gender equality through education and leadership.
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