Women, young girls and children are high risk targets in any conflicts and war. Their vulnerability makes them easy targets. They are scarred for life. Their suffering doesn’t end with the end of war, their lives stands totally devastated and mutilated. They are shunned by their community for being victims of rape, and often they have to fend for themselves and their young children. Plan, an international child aid agency has drafted a report, Because I am a Girl , to document atrocities and the affect war and continuing conflicts have on the girls and children.
According to the report:
a)38 countries have used girl soldiers in armed conflict in the last two decades
b)200 million girls live in countries that are at risk of, in the midst of or emerging from armed conflict
c)90 per cent of victims of modern warfare are civilian with more and more women and children
d)About 20 million girls are out of school in war zone
These figures are shocking. Stories of survivors in the report are very disturbing but they show rare courage to emerge from the shadows of their trauma. Conflicts are ruining many countries. They are ruining life of small girls, their families and the communities. These refugees of war need to be healed and rehabilitated in life.
The report suggests that the focus of aid agencies should include education and rehabilitation of women, girls and children to bring them back to mainstream life. Mental scars of agony and atrocities of war will never heal. But the numbers of women are children affected are large and without proper educational aid the future of communities and the world will remain forever at risk. They’ll be forever trapped in circle of poverty, abuse, displacement, hunger, high mortality and more conflicts.
If we have the target to address the true issue of eradicating poverty this could be one of the important ways. Educating women and girls will ensure their children and families are educated, which in turn will help communities to help themselves. After all wars and conflicts snatch away a way of life and livelihood.
Survivors of conflicts show extraordinary courage. Only education can equip them with skills to overcome the trauma and tragedy and live a dignified life. Knowledge aid is the best aid.
Source: TheAge
Comments
I am associated with PLAN in the Philippines. What this international NGO does is descend on a poverty-stricken community (or barangay as a community is called in the Philippines), do everything they could in cooperation with other stakeholders of the community (local government, government agencies, other concerned groups, and the constituents of the community themselves), and then declare that particular community as ’Child-Friendly Barangay.’
PLAN is all about children. And it has done monumental things for children’s education, health and safety, safe drinking water, child governance, etc.
Grace,
I came across PLAN while doing this article and I am quite impressed. They really taking the remedial course to address the issue of poverty. Conflicts are pushing people more into poverty.Future really looks grim at times but some efforts of NGOs like PLAN working with and for children bring hope...
Best wishes
Children are the worst affected by any disaster. This is because they are still impressionable and dependant on someone. Human beings have a long period of maturation and consequently this happens. But women are adults. It is only because of their upbringing as the weaker sex do they tend to be more sensitive and emotionally fragile.
PLAN Philippines still continues its very successful child-friendly campaigns in the most marginalized provinces.
Here’s one NGO that has shown its sincerity through action.
Madhuri’s “Plan for girls surviving war atrocities” is, indeed, a valuable article.
The most wretched condition of the women under the dark shadow of war is really unthinkable. Even an ordinary conflict in every society today reflects often very unfortunate consequences.
However, although it is a long debatable issue, we have no way but to counteract as and when the situation we face and how critical may it be.
Ours is a philanthropic organization where the slogan we have raised and communicate is: “Nurture an Orphan, Nurse an Old; Empower a Woman to remain Bold.”
Wishing you all the best,
Asokananda Prosad (masok) 13. 11. 08.