KWEE: Liberian Literary Magazine AUGUST 1, 2015 ISSUE | Page 24

Liberian Literary Magazine

Women Empowerment
and Girls' Education are
Crucial to Genuine
National Development
Martin K. N. Kollie

It really does not matter where
you are, who you are, or what you
have before making impact in
society, but what matters is your
selfless demonstratio n to ensure
better condition for vulnerable
people. There are many citizens
today
living
in
desperate
conditions who are in need of
help. We must go beyond words
and act rapidly to intervene
before it gets too late. All through
my life, I have not seen any one
group of people that are so
vulnerable than women and girls.
According to history, women and
girls have been mostly exposed to
countless number of risks and
dangers. In some quarters, they
are usually seen as non-entities
and immaterial characters simply
because of their gender or sex.
They
are
overlooked,
marginalized, trafficked, and
suppressed every other day around
the world as a result of improper

July 15, 2015 ISSUE # 0715
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cultural practices,
low selfesteem,
poverty,
economic
inequality,
and
insufficient
opportunities.
It is about time we begin to
exhibit a strong sense of
willingness to rescue all women
and girls who are mostly abused
and harassed by cruel elements.
The need to protect the rights of
girls and women is an unavoidable
reality for any productive society.
Women and girls are like precious
jewels and if we intentionally fail
to
create
the
necessary
opportunities for them, we hurt
ourselves as a nation and harm our
future as a people.
For too long women and girls
have been seen as backyard
gardeners,
caregivers,
babysitters,
and
domestic
workers. How long will this
continue to happen? How long will
this perception live on? The days
of the 15th century are no more
and we must live in accordance
with this time and age. What
happened yesterday must not be
allowed to happen today. The
world must understand that we
are in the 21st century.
A century where girls and
women rights are supposed to be
fully
protected
under
international legal instruments. A
century
that
prohibits
discrimination, degradation, and
segregation against women and
girls. A century that disallows
rape, genital mutilation, sexual
harassment, trafficking, and all
forms of abuses against women
and girls. A century that promotes
gender equity, socio-economic
equality, and political inclusion.

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A century that guarantees the
fundamental rights of all human
beings regardless of gender, age,
status, religion, and nationality.
We are talking about the 21st
century and not those primitive
years when women and girls were
subjected to modern slavery and
all forms of inhumane treatments.

The time for women and girls to
take charge of their own destiny is
now. Women and girls must work
towards reclaiming a different
hope for a better tomorrow. It
may seem impossible to some of
them, but it is not unachievable if
they truly believe in themselves
and their potentials.
I am one of those who strongly
believe that women and girls can
bring down mountains and
transcend valleys. I am one of
those who believe that women and
girls can perform even better than
their male counterparts. I am one
of those who believe that women
and girls can make the difference
by providing great leadership in
this age and time. It makes no
sense for anyone to underestimate
the unparalleled abilities of
women and girls.
The endless contribution of
women and girls around the world
is not only esteemed, but
extraordinary. If this assertion is
an unarguable reality, then why
must we continue to abuse women
and girls? Why must we continue
to deny women and girls from
accessing equal opportunities? I
thought gender equality is the
cornerstone for mutual existence.
I thought justice is the basis for
global
peace
and
genuine
development. If this is true, state

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