BY: ANDREW DLAMINI
MBABANE – The United Nations offices in Mbabane hosted a celebration for the International Day of the Girl Child on the 11th of October, bringing together advocates and officials to engage in discussions about the need for cross-sector collaboration to help empower every girl child to reach her full potential.
Principal Secretary at Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, Melusi Masuku, emphasized the importance of creating a safe environment for girls to flourish.
During the celebration, a young girl said during an interview with Eswatini TV, “We would love to see the government introduce more programs that will help us, it would actually help the world at large, The country at large, as these programs will give us the knowledge to be educated”.
United Nations Population Fund’s head of office Margaret Tfwala emphasized the importance of investing in the health and abilities of girls. She urged everyone to make it their responsibility to help girls believe in their own equality.
The principal secretary and the deputy prime minister’s office Melusi Masuku stated, “The government has put in place agenda responsible legislative and policy frameworks such as the sexual offences and domestic violence act of 2018. The adoption of national gender policy of 2023, the adoption of the strategy on ending violence in Eswatini of 2023/2027.” These policies are aimed at safeguarding the rights and well-being of girls in the country.
According to data from the World Bank 2019 70.6 percent of girls and 68.9 percent boys complete lower secondary school in the country. government is working towards 100% completion rate which is why the principal secretary says there is still a need for more interventions, especially for girls.
