A section of UN Agencies Representatives at the workshop
The United Nations Office in Ghana has called on government and other development partners to make the capturing of high quality data on girls a priority in ensuring the wellbeing, human rights and empowerment of girls.
The UN body posited that the data, especially in categories such as girls in extreme poverty, girls in isolated rural areas, girls living with disabilities, girls in indigenous communities and girls who are refugees and displayed within their own countries, will help the country know where it is falling short on its promises.
“Investing in girls is both the right thing to do and the smart thing to do. It has a powerful ripple effect across all areas of development and reaches forward to future generations. But what cannot be measured cannot be managed. If we do not gather the data we need, we will never know if we are delivering on our promises,” the UN body said.
The call was made during a press meeting which formed part of activities to mark UN’s International Day of the Girl with the slogan, “Girl’s progress equals Goals’ Progress: What counts for Girls.”
Mrs. Emilia Allan, Chief Protection Specialist at UNICEF, reading the statement on behalf of the UN body in Ghana said although the SDGs adopted by member states of the United Nations is transforming national and local development efforts in a commitment to leave no one behind, an age and sex disaggregated data is needed to assess, monitor and communicate the wellbeing of girls.
“Better data will provide a basis for holding all of us accountable for investing in and making sure that girls have an equal chance to succeed, live healthy lives, realize their dreams and contribute to their society,” she emphasised.
Touching on the importance of data, Mrs. Allan disclosed that UNFPA research on girls indicates that 13 per cent of Ghanaian girls between the ages of 15 to 19 years have begun childbearing meaning that these girls are more likely to drop out of school and are often at risk of HIV and STIs infections.
“Meanwhile data on very young adolescents (10 to 14) is almost non-existent in Ghana as much of the survey conducted target respondents aged 15 to 19 years and above because of the ethical challenges associated with collecting data from them,” she pointed out.
She, however, noted that with collective effort from everyone such data can be collected for better planning for girls.
The International Day of the Girl Child which is marked annually on October 11 focuses on promoting girls empowerment and highlighting the unique challenges they face around the world.
The IDCG creates the opportunity for advocacy to see that girls get the investment and recognition they deserve as citizens and as powerful agents of change within their own families, communities and nations.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri