The girl-child in southern Africa is faced with many challenges, which include poverty, effects of HIV and AIDS, dropping out of school, commercial sex work and child abuse. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPFA) mandates governments and states to eliminate all forms of discrimination and abuses against the girl-child, and to ensure that girls enjoy their rights in totality. In the Southern African Development Community (SADC), six countries (Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia and Zambia) have identified issues affecting the girl-child as a priority. However, the region still has insufficient innovative programmes to effectively deal with the challenges of girls in rural communities including those out of the formal education systems and organised groups.
Chipo Chigumira