Protecting the rights of young girls today will secure a brighter future for generations to come: First Lady

First Lady Fazna Ahmed has stated protecting the rights of young girls today will help to secure a brighter future for generations to come.

The first lady made these remarks during a live video address held to launch a child-friendly booklet on the United Nations treaty, Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), developed by Advocating the Rights of Children (ARC), in partnership with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to mark the International Day of the Girl Child 2020.

In her address, publicized through social media channels, First Lady Fazna Ahmed stated CEDAW is a means of providing protection and equality for women and girls and that the treaty ensures crucial rights for all women and girls. She also noted that raising a generation of educated and empowered young women is pivotal in safeguarding them from the damage caused by discrimination, abuse and social bias. Similarly, she stated that teaching young boys about the rights accorded to women and girls is a cornerstone in eliminating discrimination and bias.

Concluding her message, the first lady stated that one reason why many parents are still reluctant to educate their children regarding their fundamental rights is due to a long-held misconception that empowering children with information on their rights may have a negative effect on them. She also stated that the solution to this is to show children, through words and actions, that rights always comes with responsibilities. In this vein, she noted that the booklet named ‘The Convention on the Elimination on all forms of Discrimination Against Women’ was an important and necessary tool to empower children and families, and extended her gratitude to ARC, UNICEF and everyone who took part in the project.