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MaryJane Nweje's women's day piece (cohort 2020-21)

Maryjane Nweje

I have always been aware of my privilege, My privilege;

- Of being born; Femicides are ongoing at astronomical levels worldwide;

- To attain any level of education I aspire to; Malala was shot in the head by the Taliban for   daring to advocate for female education. And globally, there are many girls just like her;

- To choose when I want to get married; 12 million Girl children are married off before 18 years of age;

- To decide when I want to conceive; millions of young women have no access to sexual and reproductive health education and services; 

- To be able to speak and mind and my truth; women are continuously being silenced in Countries, workplaces and homes;

- To be safe and free of human trafficking; the majority of human trafficking victims are women and girls;

- To be free of all forms of Gender-Based Violence; women around the world continue to experience different forms of Gender-Based Violence

 

My awareness of my privilege is why I will always lend my voice in the advocacy for girls’ and women’s rights and #ChooseToChallenge policies, practices and stereotypes that harm girls and women in any way.

 

So here is to being a;

Woman

Force of nature

Mother 

Leader

Friend

Sister 

Mentor 

Partner 

Force to be reckoned with

An Activist

Here is to;

- Achieving goals and dismantling social structures that perpetuate violence, against not just Women and Girls but also Men and Boys;

- Supporting fellow women in their unique and powerful journeys;

- My Tribe of Women, who have built a brick wall of support around me. I will always be in awe of the support I have received from you all;

 

Strong women; May we be them, May we know them, May we raise them.

 

 

By Dr MaryJane Nweje

MSc IHTM Student