MELANIE MATAAGA is our Girl 50-50 Voice of the month. As the world gears for International Albinism Awareness day tomorrow join us in the coming days as we learn more about this powerhouse of a woman! Make Up: Saida Beauty Styling: Tinah Brad Photocredit: Photo4Fashion

GIRLS WITH DISABILITIES MATTER!

GIRL 50-50 IS AN ESSENTIAL PREREQUISITE TO ACHIEVING PLANET 50-50 IN AFRICA.
While we do acknowledge that there are current studies on issues pertaining to curbing the marginalization of girls with disabilities in Africa, we argue that there is not enough comprehensive information as to how the disparities & gaps between opportunities available to girls living with disabilities as compared to those living without disabilities will directly impact the overall success of the planet 50-50 agenda in Africa by 2030. The Global Goals are two years in, so we must put the issues pertaining to disparities between girls living with disabilities as compared to those without at the forefront of gender & human rights discussions. We must put this disparity at the forefront of discussions of the success of the planet 50-50 agenda in Africa. No group of girls should be left behind! No Girl should be left behind!

As we gear towards the observance of the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11th, it is important that the position of the marginality of Girls living with disabilities as compared to those without disabilities is put at the forefront of discussion in Africa. The inequality between boys & girls is appreciated & acknowledged at a global stage, & yet not enough attention is being paid globally specifically towards the inequalities faced among girls living with disabilities as compared to girls without disabilities & the challenge this disparity afflicts on the overall success of the planet 50-50 agenda in Africa.

So how do we achieve our plans for gender equality in 2030 when indeed girls with disabilities in Africa are currently alarmingly unequal in the opportunities available to them as compared to girls living without disabilities?-even after putting into consideration the minimal opportunities currently available to Girls without disabilities as we stand in Africa today, especially in rural Africa.

Where are the in-depth analyses & statistics of closing this gap by 2030? Where are the comparative data & statistical analyses on the disparities in opportunities available to girls with disabilities as compared to those without disabilities & the direct relation on how this disparity will affect the overall goal for the PLANET 50-50 agenda by 2030 in Africa?

Gender related challenges largely arise from culture & societal norms that hamper the progress of the African girl child. Disability also largely inhibits progress of an individual through societal discrimination & stigma in the African society. It thereby should be tabled for extensive global discussions on the planet 50-50 agenda, that indeed the intersection of the challenges pertaining to not just being a girl, but a girl living with a disability in Africa, especially an adolescent girl living with a disability in rural Africa, makes for one of the most severely marginalized & at risk groups of people on our continent, which is a great concern for the success of the planet 50-50 agenda by 2030 for all girls to enjoy.

Comprehensive & comparative analyses disaggregated on the basis of not just the age & geographical locations, but also disability must be compiled for the African girl child & the direct relation as to how these gaps will affect the success of planet 50-50 in Africa by 2030.

How are girls with disabilities fairing in comparison to girls without disabilities in relation to achieving the planet 50-50 agenda as of today?
What are the unique issues faced by girls with disabilities as compared to girls without disabilities that inhibits their ability to enjoy the victories we hope to achieve as girls on the continent by 2030?

How do girls with disabilities as compared to those without disabilities stand today towards achieving education, healthcare, nutrition & overall security by 2030?
What are the disparities in these statistics as we project our planet 50-50 agenda success for all girls?

Is Girl 50-50 possible? Is it possible for all girls to be equal in Africa regardless of if they have a disability or not? The good news is that we believe that it is possible. It is doable. However, we do not have comprehensive, time sensitive statistical data & strategies for this outcome. We must have a comprehensive, time-sensitive agenda for our Girl 50-50 plan. A plan that is monitored & evaluated regularly up until 2030. This ginormous effort will require the support from world leaders, United Nations systems & civil society.

That is why we need your signature & support. We need you to be the voice for all girls with disabilities in Africa. All girls matter! And for all girls to matter, girls with disabilities must matter the most, for they are one of the most marginalized groups of people on the African continent.

GIRL 50-50!

Malengo Foundation is prepared to work with Governments, United Nations Systems & civil society organisations to make the 2030 vision for all girls in Africa a reality. To do this, we must put the issues of girls with disabilities at the forefront of discussion. We must put the minority & marginalized at the forefront of development & human rights issues & assess the exact impact these issues have on our global plans for achieving planet 50-50 in Africa by 2030.

WHAT DO WE WANT?

-We want global investments in to programs for comparative comprehensive data collection, research & analysis on the disparities faced by girls with disabilities as compared to those without disabilities & comprehensive information on how these disparities will affect the success of achieving the Planet 50-50 agenda set out for girls living with disabilities in Africa by 2030.
-We want a time-sensitive & comprehensive strategy with clear targets on how to mitigate the disparities currently making girls with disabilities not equally as competitive as compared to girls without disabilities in Africa as of today, & targets on how we aim to close this gap by 2030.
-We want projections on the status of the gaps by 2020 & subsequently by 2030, if plans to close the current alarming inequality gaps between girls with disabilities & those living without disabilities is made a high priority for girls in Africa today.
-We want relevant regulatory bodies to review & monitor these targets up until 2030.

Imagine an Africa!

• -Where all girls matter regardless of having a disability!
• -Where girls with disabilities are free to have big dreams, where our communities are structured to fulfill those aspirations on the same basis as girls without disabilities.
• -Where plans for girls with disabilities to have access to inclusive education & employment are on the same basis as girls without disabilities.
• -Where girls with disabilities are confident enough to make informed decisions for their lives on same basis as girls without disabilities.
• -Where plans for girls with disabilities to have access to public transport systems are effected on the same basis as girls without disabilities. This strengthens the marginalized position of girls with disabilities, it fosters their accessibility to rural-urban migrations. It also puts them in a position of confidence for they are capable of fleeing situations of distress & insecurity, access healthcare facilities & public service, such as accessing the police & hospitals when in dangerous positions relating to sexual & gender based violence.
• -Where plans for girls with disabilities to have the ability to access healthcare services & information especially sexual reproductive health information is effected on the same basis as girls without disabilities. Accounting for the fact that not all health information is currently brailled & not all health care & counseling facilities have provision for sign language interpretation today.
• -Where girls with disabilities are empowered to negotiate safe sex on the same basis as girls without disabilities.
• -Where girls with disabilities are treated with respect & perceived as individuals worthy to be dignified in society on the same basis as girls without disabilities.
• -Where girls with disabilities are free to enjoy their human rights & fundamental freedoms on the same basis as girls without disabilities.
• -Where girls with disabilities access justice & judicial systems that protect them under the same consideration as girls without disabilities, especially pertaining to rape & other forms of gender & sexual based violence.

We believe wholeheartedly in the 2030 Global Goals agenda!
No one should be left behind!
No Girl should be left behind!
And to do this most importantly, we must not only acknowledge the alarming gap as we stand today between girls & boys, but we must disaggregate gender issues & have an in-depth analysis between the challenges of girls living with disabilities as compared to those living without disabilities in Africa, for this disparity is a ginormous concern for achieving planet 50-50 agenda success in Africa.
We must work to close this gap!
We need GIRL 50-50!
All girls must be marching to planet 50-50 victory equally!
All girls should be equal!
We need 10,000 signatures!
Will you be one of them?