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President Jacob Zuma today wishes all girl-children a happy and memorable International Day of the Girl Child.

On 17 November 2011, the Third Committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations agreed to designate 11 October as the International Day of the Girl Child to be observed every year beginning in 2012.

The problem of Early Child Marriages has been adopted as the major theme to commemorate the inaugural event this year. This decision was based on the evidence that Early Child Marriage curtails the bright future of many young girls as they are forced to become young brides rather than further their studies or careers. The practice is a devastating human rights violation that robs many girls of their childhood, education, health and future.

President Jacob Zuma said this is indeed a day we should use to reflect on such social challenges that girl children are faced with as they grow. In addition to forced early child marriages, young girls also contend with facing tragic incidents such as rape and sexual abuses sometimes from close family members as well as incest.

"Young children must have a right to decide their own future. It is through education that we can help to empower them so that they can make their own independent decisions on the lives that they want to lead. When children drop out of school early it often leads to teenage pregnancies and life threatening risks such as HIV infections and other sexual and reproductive diseases, which prevents them from fulfilling their dreams. In most instances it also prevents these young girls from breaking from a cycle of poverty that they have become entrenched in," said President Zuma.

President Zuma urged government, civil society and families in general to play a part in nurturing young girls so that they realise their full potential and have prosperous futures.

Comments

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Fri May 24 08:03:48 SAST 2013 ::

Oct 11, 2012

KILLERa1111

Profound Mr President....
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Oct 11, 2012

Seja-Bana

yah ne..............each and eveyday has its special event here, do we rally have a day that is dadicated to boys/men?
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Oct 11, 2012

malemaforpresident

Right to engage sex at the age of 12 without parents consent
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Oct 11, 2012

dmstephen

ha fetsa wa baja mxm
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Oct 11, 2012

shakashaka

There is no point Mr President if you stil going to propose girls same age as your grand daughter
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Oct 11, 2012

Kekgethegile

Look who's talking mxm

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Oct 11, 2012

MommaC

..... providing that they just get married and have babies.

Nice speech but the source taints the taste
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Oct 11, 2012

DA-DBN-GUY

Wow this from a man who said it was wrong for a woman to be single? Has sex outside of marriage, with a friends daughter nogal, and being accused of rape!!! lets not even touch on the "It is through education that we can help to empower them" remark. Limpopo textbook fiasco anyone
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Oct 11, 2012

sabza007

A certain % of girls In South Africa are fall victims to being misled,raped and/or kill.

Those old men who take advantage of young confused girls who are still trying to find their way in life, Those Drug Lords who are feeding drugs to our young girls by spiking their drinks and kidnap or rape them,
Those parents who see a girl child as a house servant that must clean, cook,wash and iron irrespective whether they are sick or not or they are writing exams in that week.

You must be ashamed of yourselves if you fall in any of the above categories.

Lets give them love, respect,proper guidance and protection. The current Minister of Women,Children and People with Disability is a silent whale that must ship out and someone vibrant takes over.


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Oct 11, 2012

shakashaka

There is no point Mr presidend if you are still going to give Amakhosi legal powers to force girls 13 into marriages with 55 year old men
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