Karonga District Gender Officer Advocates for Coordinated Efforts to Promote Girl Child Rights
Mwenelupembe made this appeal during a panel discussion organised by Development Alternative Incorporation (DAI) on Tuntufye Radio Station.
Karonga, Malawi - Gender Officer for Karonga district, Ireen Mwenelupembe, has called for coordinated efforts to ensure the realization of the rights of the girl child, writes Ellah Chirwa.
Mwenelupembe made this appeal during a panel discussion organized by Development Alternative Incorporation (DAI) on Tuntufye Radio Station.
The discussion focused on child rights as part of the lead-up to the international celebration of the girl child.
Mwenelupembe emphasized the importance of a unified vision among government organizations and various stakeholders in advancing girl child rights.
She highlighted that such collaboration would be instrumental in achieving enabler number 5 of the 2063 development agenda, which pertains to education and skill development.
One of the key challenges Mwenelupembe pointed out was the lack of coordination among organizations working to protect the rights of girls.
She noted that the absence of a common approach hindered progress in combatting early pregnancies and school dropouts in the district.
While some organizations promoted family planning as a means to support girl child education, others focused solely on education, often leading to conflicting messages.
Mwenelupembe also called on community leaders to join forces with the government in advocating for girl child rights.
She highlighted the presence of cultural beliefs in the district that posed barriers to girls' access to education.
Traditional Authority Mwilangómbe pledged to collaborate with the government and NGOs to ensure that girls have access to education.
He vowed to take action against parents who prevent their daughters from attending school.
Development Alternative Incorporation, with support from USAID through its Governance For Solutions project, organized the panel discussion under the theme "Invest in Girls' Rights: Our Leadership and Wellbeing."
The conversation surrounding the rights of the girl child in Karonga highlights the ongoing efforts to address the unique challenges faced by girls and promote gender equality in education and other areas of life.