Girls are disproportionately affected by child marriage, which limits their chances and exposes them to a number of social and health risks, according to data from the Global Programme’s Annual Results and Phase II.
This emphasizes how crucial it is to work together to defend teenage girls’ rights and advance gender equality.
In response, the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection’s Child Marriage Unit, in collaboration with UNFPA Ghana and UNICEF Ghana, has arranged a two-day residential Annual Stakeholders’ Meeting in the Ashanti Region from Thursday, November 14 to Friday, November 15, 2024, to review previous accomplishments, talk about current issues, and plan for the third phase (2024–2030) of the Global Programme to End Child Marriage (GPECM).
The meeting’s objectives were to evaluate the interventions that had been put into place during the previous 12 months, monitor advancements, and make sure that they were in line with the main SDG goal of preventing child marriage by 2030.
The Ghana National Strategic Framework to End Child Marriage by 2017–2026 included the amended National Operational, Monitoring, and Evaluation Plan for 2025–2026, which was also approved during the conference.
In her introductory remarks, Madam Safia Tamimu, the Head of the Child Marriage Unit, spoke on behalf of Dr. Afisah Zakariah, the Chief Director of MoGCSP, and stressed the pressing need to safeguard the rights and futures of Ghanaian girls. She highlighted the implications for human rights as well as the detrimental effects on the health, education, and economic prospects of girls.
In order to close gaps and increase the effectiveness of interventions, she highlighted recent ministry projects, such as the study on social protection and child marriage and another on gender-transformative social behavior change.
Madam Safia Tamimu gave the stakeholders the responsibility of extending their dedication to all of the nation’s girls, guaranteeing them the autonomy to make decisions regarding their lives and destiny.
The hienous practice is still common, according to UNICEF representatives Madam Joyce Odame and UNFPA representatives Madam Doris Aglobitse. They cited the 2021 Population and Housing Census, which showed that over 120,000 youngsters between the ages of 12 and 17 were married or living together.
In order to promote change at all levels, they emphasized the necessity of teamwork, which includes enlisting men, boys, and traditional leaders.
UNICEF and UNFPA reiterated their determination to increase and maintain their strong support for Ghanaian girls’ empowerment.
The conference is expected to provide updates on the continuing Impact Evaluation Analysis of the Promoting Adolescent Safe Spaces (PASS) Program, enhance stakeholder partnerships, share the updated Operational Plan, and assess the success of stakeholders’ activities.
Presentations on their initiatives to combat child marriage in Ghana were given by each stakeholder.
Source: newsthemegh.com