Due to the fact that women are vulnerable, they have been the object of ridicule, war, human trafficking, sexual harrasment, and underage marriages among other social vices which plague the society. It is really pathetic that despite the effort of NGO's to abreast the society and enlightened those who are oblivious of this great inhumane treatment against the female gender has proven abortive. The government and the society who are supposed to be responsible and proactive about the measures to be taken in order to curb and put an end to this meance lacks the prompt attitude towards it.
The war against insurgency in Nigeria is practically slack or maybe no war is being staged at all. Precisely, the Boko Haram Islamist groups have been tormenting Nigeria for over 2 years now and women have been their target. Their first attack was launched on the innocent secondary school girls in Chibok, Borno State.
The militants abducted roughly 100-450 girls from the boarding school, continue here
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The abduction was geared towards making the girls an instrument for sex hawking, trafficking, molestation and other dirty vices said the leader of the militants. Most disheartening report about this false imprisonment and flagrant disregard for human life by the militants is that, the security teams (armed forces) are yet to recover the school girls abducted for over two years ago. Whether they are alive or dead by now, or perhaps sold into slavery, nobody can give an accurate or an affirmative reply as regards their abduction.
What is the hope for those girls abducted, their families and their lives generally?
Can the government guarantee the safety of the lives of people especially women who are vulnerable to these vices?
Also, recently this jihad militants strucked again. And this time, it was against a health worker (ICRC) which is against the International Humantarian Law. A rule that governs war whereby certain people are given the privilege and immunity from the consequences of war, amongst them are health workers at war zones etc.
The militants have this to say about the death of the worker, details here
These underlaying effects are the primary causes of the inhumane treatment suffered by women across different continent and space.
The physiological differences between a woman and a man have reduced her to an object of torture, possession and degradation by the society and the people perpetrating such evils. It is so unethical and apologetic to know that some people still hold to the belief that women are meant for homes and work chores only.
Therefore, they must be protected from the western civilization. Thus, they are being exposed to early marriage (underage) and childbirth, thereby, they will have no advantage or opportunity for making the best of themselves.
This statistics according to the World Health Organization (WHO), was given about the figures of early childbirth among girls under the age of 13-18;
“Approximately 16 million girls aged 15 to 19 years and 2.5 million girls under 16 years give birth each year in developing regions.
Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death for 15 to 19 year-old girls globally.
Every year, some 3.9 million girls aged 15 to 19 years undergo unsafe abortions.
Adolescent mothers (ages 10 to 19 years) face higher risks of eclampsia, puerperal endometritis, and systemic infections than women aged 20 to 24 years.”
(source: http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-pregnancy)
The effects of these conditions above are as follows;
Health consequences:
Adolescent pregnancy remains a major contributor to maternal and child mortality, and to intergenerational cycles of ill-health and poverty. Pregnancy and childbirth complications are the leading cause of death among 15 to 19 year-old girls globally, with low and middle-income countries accounting for 99% of global maternal deaths of women ages 15 to 49 years.
Adolescent mothers (ages 10 to 19 years) face higher risks of eclampsia, puerperal endometritis, and systemic infections than women aged 20 to 24 years. Additionally, some 3.9 million unsafe abortions among girls aged 15 to 19 years occur each year, contributing to maternal mortality and lasting health problems. continue reading
Economic and social consequences:
Adolescent pregnancy can also have negative social and economic effects on girls, their families and communities. Unmarried pregnant adolescents may face stigma or rejection by parents and peers and threats of violence. Similarly, girls who become pregnant before age 18 are more likely to experience violence within marriage or a partnership. With regards to education, school-leaving can be a choice when a girl perceives pregnancy to be a better option in her circumstances than continuing education, or can be a direct cause of pregnancy or early marriage. An estimated 5% to 33% of girls ages 15 to 24 years who drop out of school in some countries do so because of early pregnancy or marriage.
Based on their subsequent lower education attainment, may have fewer skills and opportunities for employment, often perpetuating cycles of poverty: child marriage reduces future earnings of girls by an estimated 9%. continue reading
It is high time we start awareness towards this human degradation and ill treatment against women and see them as a game changer, role maker, policy maker and social influencers in our society. Stop the ill treatment of a girl, lady or a woman today, instead let's embrace and show them love...
More respect should be accorded to the girl child in every part of the world, not only Nigeria. Women are often likened to mother earth because of their level of productivity to their environment - intellectually, emotionally and spiritually.
Resteemed and 100% upvoted!