{"id":1112627,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1112627/?format=json","text_counter":113,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":13188,"legal_name":"Getrude Musuruve Inimah","slug":"getrude-musuruve-inimah"},"content":"Due to this gender digital divide which existed long before COVID-19, many girls have missed out on educational opportunities during the pandemic. Limited Internet access and a lack of digital skills prevent girls from taking advantage of remote learning. Their online activities are often restrained and monitored because of cultural norms. The world needs to be alive to the fact that girls have the right to a safe and healthy life not only during critical formative years, but also as they mature into women. If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world. It is clear that girls are breaking boundaries and barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion, including those directed at children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities. The 2030 agenda for sustainable development and its 17 sustainable development goals adopted by world leaders in 2015 embody a roadmap for progress that is sustainable and leaves no one behind. Achieving gender equality and women empowerment is integral to each of the goals. As we commemorate this day, I call upon parents to make efforts at ensuring that they empower both the boy and girl child on an equal scale in terms of education opportunities and family inheritance. We have an illustration of gender equality in the Bible. Job 42:15 clearly states that Job gave his daughters inheritance among their brothers. This is a model that parents need to emulate in narrowing the inequality gap amongst their children. I call upon both county governments and national Government to come up with progressive and sustainable programmes that will enhance multi-sectoral opportunities of the girl child. Girls have equal ability and immense potential and when we empower them, everyone benefits. Happy belated international day of the girl child. I thank you."}