A workshop on "Opportunities and challenges of Adolescent girls"
Women Development Society (WODES) organized workshop on "Opportunities and challenges of Adolescent girls: Sharing experiences to overcome the challenges" 11th July, 2015 among the adolescent girls. In the program the girls spoke emphasizing on the problems facing by girls in Nepal.
Girls are discriminated from their house. Unequal behavior of parents between boys and girls starts from house. Due to patriarchal social norms and tradition, girls are deprived of better education and participation in social activities. They are compelled to follow the so called social norms and have to live and wear reservedly in the society. There is less probability of equal opportunities among the girls and boys which lacks the self confidence among the girls. They are always diffident in forwarding their ideas and their innovations. Due to family conflict, vulnerable condition of girl and lack of intimate friends to whom they can share their problems, girl child marriage prevailed in the society by force. Girls are often dis-empowered, dependent on their husbands and deprived of their fundamental rights to health, education and safety. Neither physically nor emotionally ready to become wives and mothers, they are at greater risk of experiencing dangerous complications in pregnancy and childbirth and suffering domestic violence. Girls are compelled to be raped by their own so called husband at any time. Dowry and Tilak system are worse case in most of the Terai region. Child marriage is widespread in Nepal and can lead to a lifetime of disadvantage and deprivation. Child Marriage increases the risk of girl trafficking and unable the girls to think about the future plans. They become the victims of physical, mental, psychological and sexual violence.
Way forward for the better future of adolescent girls: • Gender discrimination begins from homes, neighbors and society. Therefore it is necessary for adolescent girls to be organized and raise voice against the gender inequality and discrimination. The movement for the equal rights of girls should be started from homes. Adolescent girls must continue their fighting for equality, equity and to eliminate all kind of discrimination. The Nepali society has strong preference for sons, there is growing evidence that couples are using ultrasound and other modern methods to identify the sex of unborn fetuses, followed by selective abortion of females. The law against selective abortion must be implemented.
• Girls have fundamental rights of security and they have equal rights to develop themselves as responsible citizens. Relevant places such as homes, neighbors, society, schools, colleges, administration, police and other local organizations must be sensitized. The adolescent girls should lead them and put pressure them to stand for the rights of adolescent girls.
• There is no proper visualization and data collection about the violence against girls in Nepal. The event reports from the media somewhere lacks detail information and has demonstrate more violence to the girls. Therefore it is necessary to create adolescent girls friendly environment to raise voice against violence in Nepal. Girls should be protected from additional challenges and challenges from the law while raising their voice against violence.
• Nepal has signed in different treaties on violence against women and children child and women violence and laws related to girl’s rights can diminished the violence in Nepal. So these national and international laws should be implemented.
• Education is very important for the girls. It is very essential not only for getting superior prestige in the society or getting perfect match for the marriage but education must be for to be depended their own feet and to develop their entrepreneurship. As this competitive society the technical education should be promoted for girls.
• Child marriage reinforces gender inequality and violates human rights. Different campaign should be organized to end child marriage. The understanding and concept of the family and society that only marriage can solve the whole problem must be changed. To find the better ways of life of adolescent girls concerning about sexual life and body.
• The incident of sexual violence and rape cases are increasing day by day. Girls trafficking still exist in Nepal. Therefore all authorities must be responsible for the social security of girls. The impunity must be ended.
Girls are discriminated from their house. Unequal behavior of parents between boys and girls starts from house. Due to patriarchal social norms and tradition, girls are deprived of better education and participation in social activities. They are compelled to follow the so called social norms and have to live and wear reservedly in the society. There is less probability of equal opportunities among the girls and boys which lacks the self confidence among the girls. They are always diffident in forwarding their ideas and their innovations. Due to family conflict, vulnerable condition of girl and lack of intimate friends to whom they can share their problems, girl child marriage prevailed in the society by force. Girls are often dis-empowered, dependent on their husbands and deprived of their fundamental rights to health, education and safety. Neither physically nor emotionally ready to become wives and mothers, they are at greater risk of experiencing dangerous complications in pregnancy and childbirth and suffering domestic violence. Girls are compelled to be raped by their own so called husband at any time. Dowry and Tilak system are worse case in most of the Terai region. Child marriage is widespread in Nepal and can lead to a lifetime of disadvantage and deprivation. Child Marriage increases the risk of girl trafficking and unable the girls to think about the future plans. They become the victims of physical, mental, psychological and sexual violence.
Way forward for the better future of adolescent girls: • Gender discrimination begins from homes, neighbors and society. Therefore it is necessary for adolescent girls to be organized and raise voice against the gender inequality and discrimination. The movement for the equal rights of girls should be started from homes. Adolescent girls must continue their fighting for equality, equity and to eliminate all kind of discrimination. The Nepali society has strong preference for sons, there is growing evidence that couples are using ultrasound and other modern methods to identify the sex of unborn fetuses, followed by selective abortion of females. The law against selective abortion must be implemented.
• Girls have fundamental rights of security and they have equal rights to develop themselves as responsible citizens. Relevant places such as homes, neighbors, society, schools, colleges, administration, police and other local organizations must be sensitized. The adolescent girls should lead them and put pressure them to stand for the rights of adolescent girls.
• There is no proper visualization and data collection about the violence against girls in Nepal. The event reports from the media somewhere lacks detail information and has demonstrate more violence to the girls. Therefore it is necessary to create adolescent girls friendly environment to raise voice against violence in Nepal. Girls should be protected from additional challenges and challenges from the law while raising their voice against violence.
• Nepal has signed in different treaties on violence against women and children child and women violence and laws related to girl’s rights can diminished the violence in Nepal. So these national and international laws should be implemented.
• Education is very important for the girls. It is very essential not only for getting superior prestige in the society or getting perfect match for the marriage but education must be for to be depended their own feet and to develop their entrepreneurship. As this competitive society the technical education should be promoted for girls.
• Child marriage reinforces gender inequality and violates human rights. Different campaign should be organized to end child marriage. The understanding and concept of the family and society that only marriage can solve the whole problem must be changed. To find the better ways of life of adolescent girls concerning about sexual life and body.
• The incident of sexual violence and rape cases are increasing day by day. Girls trafficking still exist in Nepal. Therefore all authorities must be responsible for the social security of girls. The impunity must be ended.