OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek facilitates creative workshops for teenage girls in marking International Day of the Girl Child | WPN World People News

To mark the International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October, a “Successful Girl” leadership school was launched across three province of Kyrgyzstan by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek in partnership with the public foundation “Child’s Rights Defenders League”.

Within the context of the leadership school, the OSCE Programme Office will facilitate a set of comprehensive training courses on leadership, social entrepreneurship, and human rights to 60 teenage girls and their families from regions with some of the highest rates of early marriages.

In order to tackle the root causes of early marriages and bride kidnapping, the Programme Office recognized the need to empower teenage girls by helping them acquire knowledge on human rights, early marriages and its consequences, the role of local referral mechanisms, as well as gain vital skills to adapt to adult life. Furthermore, taking note of the important role that families play, their parents were also invited to actively participate in the workshops.

“For many years now, our Office has supported the Kyrgyz authorities and civil society to promote gender equality and empower women and girls. All OSCE participating States recognize that equality between women, men, girls and boys is an essential element of a just and democratic society. They committed themselves to taking all necessary measures to effectively address gender-based violence and encourage full participation of women in all aspects of political and public life,” added Vladimir Rakocevic, Human Dimension Officer with OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

“The International Day of the Girl Child reminds us that sustainable solutions must be found to address the pressing issues that girls everywhere face on a daily basis. Expanding their opportunities and protecting their rights should remain high on our agenda as the most effective bulwark against early marriages, bride kidnapping, and gender-based violence,” observed Nazgul Turdubekova, Director of the public foundation “Child’s Rights Defenders League”.

As part of its flagship project “Supporting Kyrgyzstan in Enhancing Human Security”, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek will continue to provide targeted support to grassroots initiatives with the aim of strengthening the resilience of communities across Kyrgyzstan.

Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe