THE DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD
It’s impossible to think about today being UN International Day of the Girl Child without thinking about a 14 year-old girl lying in a Pakistani hospital having been shot in the head by a member of the Taliban.
Malala Yousafzai is an unbelievably brave and powerful girl child.
Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by a member of the Taliban.
Since the age of 11 she has been campaigning in her home in the Swat Valley for girls’ rights to education, a dangerous pastime for a girl in a Taliban stronghold.
On Tuesday, Malala – and the world – realized just how dangerous when she was shot by a member of the Taliban as she sat on her school bus. The bullet passed through her head and lodged in her shoulder. Two of her friends were also wounded.
Malala has still not regained consciousness and is still on a ventilator. According to the New York Times the outcry in Pakistan has been vociferous, and a $100,000 reward has been put up for information leading to the arrest of her attacker.
The Taliban have proudly claimed responsibility for the attack on Malala, “a Western-minded girl,” and say they will have a second go at murdering her if given the chance.
“She always speaks against us. We will target anyone who speaks against the Taliban,” a spokesman for the militant group said.
Malala Yousafzai is a potent symbol for girl’s rights and an icon of defiance against a Taliban that would subjugate women into the dark ages – no education, no walking in public without a male escort, forced into marriage as children.
Indeed the theme of this inaugural International Day of The Girl Child is forced child-marriage – “a slavery-like reality in ever single region of the world” according to the United Nations.
The UN estimates that every year 10 million girls around the world are forced into arranged marriages. Some of them are as young as eight and are forced to marry men four times their age.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, a party based in Karachi, prayed for the well being of Malala Yousafzai. Image by Shakil Adil via The New York Times.
UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said the day highlighted the need to empower girls and secure their human rights.
“Girls face discrimination, violence and abuse every day across the world,” he said.
“This alarming reality underpins the International Day of the Girl Child.”
There could not be a more forceful and potent example than that of Malala Yousafzai, freedom fighter.
Her extraordinary power has moved the world.
What on earth is the Taliban so scared of?
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*Lucy (Editor of The Hoopla) is a journalist and editor with almost thirty years experience in newspapers and magazines in Sydney, London, and New York. She has been published in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, The Daily and Sunday Telegraphs, Vogue Living, Australian Art Review, and Gourmet Traveller. Most recently the Books Editor of the Sunday Telegraph, she has also contributed to the non-fiction books, Australia Through Time, and What Women Want.
31 Responses to this article
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Seana Smith October 11, 2012
So sad that Malala lies in a hospital bed. She has ignited a torch but if only she could be at school instead, play, campaign, live freely. We spent a year in Pakistan and know well that there are no simple answers. But here’s hoping the people of Pakistan move forwards towards broader acceptance of women’s rights and the rights of their girl children.
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the*sparrow October 11, 2012
I really run out of words to use when I contemplate the Taliban. They just do not belong in this day and age. Although I agree with many that the war in Afghanistan is an un-winnable one, I worry about the fate of the women who will be abandoned to their fates when the west inevitably pulls out. It is heartening to hear of the public outcry against this shooting in Pakistan though, I hope it leads to real action against the Talib thugs.
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Diane October 11, 2012
We are starting our anti-poverty week campaign early to observe this important day.
It has been proven that if we can help a mother increase her income; her daughters will have a much better chance to stay in school longer. And this can make a huge difference to girls and their community
We know that microfinance plus education is a truly effective way of fighting poverty. That’s why during this Anti-Poverty Week, we’re calling on Australians to fund financial literacy courses for 200 women in the Asia Pacific. Just $100 funds a class that teaches a woman essential skills for growing her business and her income, allowing her to better support her family.
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Beth October 11, 2012
I made sure I told my 11 year old daughter about Malala this morning – about what she did, how brave she was and why education was so important to her. It is so easy to forget how fortunate we are and how many battles there are yet to be fought in this world.
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mrs pops October 11, 2012
bravo Malala. i agree tell your children about Malala.
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chris October 11, 2012
“In attacking Malala, the terrorist have failed to grasp that she is not only an individual, but an icon of courage and hope who vindicates the great sacrifices that the people of Swat and the nation gave, for wresting the valley from the scourge of terrorism,” Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said in a statement.
I couldn’t put it better than that. Perhaps this is a watershed moment for Pakistan that will see the Taliban unmasked for the thugs that they are.
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helenbea October 11, 2012
Yes, chris…let’s hope it is a watershed moment for Pakistan. Whenever these incidents are brought to our attention in the western world, it’s a call to recommit to efforts to support those who are downtrodden and oppressed.
Malala is the sacrificial lamb awakening the consciousness of us all.
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helenbea October 11, 2012
What on earth is the Taliban so scared of?
Everything in our world is about power. Unfortunately, the definition of power for most is the belief that ‘having power’ means having power over someone else.
As you say ‘Her extraordinary power has moved the world’.
The Taliban are desperately holding to the ‘old order’ and power base and that is very much about the oppression of women. -
Kirsten Benhiam October 11, 2012
I have no words for how I feel.
I feel for all the women enduring hardship, heartache over dyng children, poverty and the inability to control the very simple things in life let alone the big things.
I don’t think it will ever change in some countries and more girls and women will be sacrificed. I hope this is a watershed moment but I fear not.
My heart aches while small-minded men play judge, jury and executioner.
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Margot October 11, 2012
@helenbea – totally agree. The Taliban are probably the ugliest example of oppression of women, but let’s not forget that in many countries in which the Taliban do not operate, women and girls live in appalling servitude. In parts of the Middle East, Africa and Asia, so-called honour killings still take place, girl children are sold off in marriage, women and girls are totally beholden to their male relatives and kept virtual prisoners in their own homes, and only boys are privileged enough to be allowed an education. While Pakistan’s Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani made a fine and noble statement, his country is probably one of the greatest offenders when it comes to the rights of women and girls, and not all of these crimes are committed by the Taliban. We need real change, and that means cultural change in societies that treat females as chattel. In the meantime my heart goes out to brave Malala and all girls like her who “dared” to speak out. More power to them!
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Diane October 11, 2012
@Margot- well said. For those that havent read the book Half the Sky- please go read it and act.
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Amanda October 11, 2012
Thank you for the article Lucy.
Excellent points helenbea, Diane and Margot.
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Van Essa October 11, 2012
What can western woman do to help the plight of these woman and girls? I am horrified! In my fantasy, these men are made to live, as they force the females to live for at least a month, so that they get a taste of their own arrogance.
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Sarah October 11, 2012
in the light of what is current political events in Australia, I wonder what Tony Abbott and his cronies would have to say about a courageous girl like this!
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Sarah October 11, 2012
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Ella October 11, 2012
Poor brave Malala, I hope and pray that she recovers and goes on to live her dreams .
Many of you have asked “what are the TB so afraid of”, they are threatened by women becoming independent and no longer being subservient to them. So they demean, threaten and kill them, to keep the status quo.
Until men all over the world respect women – not only the ones who know their place, violence against women and girls will continue
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Benison O'Reilly October 11, 2012
This is the most tragic, awful story. That anyone could proudly boast they shot a 14 year old girl, shows how distorted the reality of the Taliban really is. And we’re going to pull out of Afghanistan soon. So so sad.
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Leesa October 11, 2012
my heart goes out to her and her family and for all who in Pakistan that are tormented by the Taliban and too by the US drones.
And I feel deeply deeply grateful that I, and my son lucked out to be born in Australia as well as a deep sense of responsibility for those not as lucky as us. Both towards the victims and the intimidators.
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RobynMarie October 11, 2012
Forget Tony Abbott, the Taliban are the original misogynists. God bless Malala ( whichever god she chooses)
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geninia October 11, 2012
So very sad. Despite the troop loss one has to consider that the only way to control the influence of the the Taliban is to keep troops in Afghanistan. However that doesn’t help the situation in Pakistan.
Are the Taliban the ultimate misogynists? Sorry but I still don’t get what they are trying to achieve. They certainly don’t reflect the true values of Islam.
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Rhoda October 12, 2012
They are illiterate thugs and this girl is much braver than her people’s leaders in Islamabad who have been negotiating with them.
CNN interviewed this young girl last year if you are interested.
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Van Essa October 12, 2012
How on earth Tony Abbott gets a mention in this defies logic! This story shows the true mysogony within the world, Tony Abbott is just a little old fashioned in his values.
How anybody could shoot a 14 year old girl for speaking up…it just shows what type of people we are dealing with.
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Ella October 12, 2012
Van Essa, “Tony is just a little old fashioned in his values” and the “Taliban are very old fashiones in their values”. Don’t you realise that its just a matter of degree.
I repeat – “untill men all over the world respect women – not only the ones who “know their place”, violence against women and girls will continue.
Now Van Essa do you understand the logic?
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Katherine Barden October 13, 2012
Her courage defies one word description…..
