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24th January was National Girl Child Day, and many celebratory messages were shared. But how safe is a girl in today's world?
Even as we celebrated National Girl Child Day last week, it is imperative to acknowledge the harsh reality that many young girls around the world, and particularly in India, continue to suffer at the hands of traffickers.
Despite the progress made in various aspects of gender equality, the insidious crime of trafficking, fueled by the anonymity of social media, remains a pressing issue that demands our attention and action.
In recent years, social media platforms have become both a blessing and a curse.
While they provide a space for connection, awareness, and empowerment, they have also become a breeding ground for criminals engaged in the trafficking of young girls. The ease of communication and the cloak of anonymity that social media offers, has given traffickers a new and sinister tool to exploit vulnerable individuals.
National Girl Child Day is a reminder of the potential and promise inherent in every girl. Unfortunately, countless girls find themselves trapped in the web of trafficking, facing unimaginable horrors.
Poverty, lack of education, and societal inequalities make young girls particularly susceptible to exploitation. Traffickers often prey on these vulnerabilities, luring girls with false promises of a better life, education, or employment.
Social media platforms provide traffickers with an expansive reach, allowing them to connect with potential victims and carry out their nefarious activities discreetly. False identities, fake job offers, and deceptive promises are the tools of the trade, enabling traffickers to manipulate vulnerable girls into falling prey to their schemes. The virtual world, which should be a space for positive engagement, has unfortunately become a hunting ground for those seeking to exploit the innocent.
It is crucial for society to recognize the intersection of trafficking and social media and take collective action. Government agencies, law enforcement, and tech companies must collaborate to monitor and regulate online spaces. Stricter enforcement of laws against trafficking, along with increased awareness and education programs, can empower young girls to recognize and resist potential threats.
As we celebrate National Girl Child Day, let us recommit ourselves to creating a world where every girl is protected, educated, and given the opportunity to thrive. Empowering girls with education, providing economic opportunities, and fostering a supportive environment can help break the cycle of vulnerability that traffickers exploit. By addressing the root causes and collaborating across sectors, we can work towards dismantling the networks that perpetuate this menace.
National Girl Child Day serves as a poignant reminder of the rights and potential inherent in every girl. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the celebration is not merely symbolic but translates into tangible action. By addressing the nexus of trafficking and social media, we can strive to create a world where the girl child is free from the clutches of monsters, ensuring a brighter and safer future for all.
Image source: a still from the film Amoli/ YouTube
I am Farida Rizwan, 57, Counselor and Psychotherapist working as Senior Curriculum Developer with Chimple Learning. I am the founder of My Giggle Garden, Preschool, and Daycare. I am an ardent blogger @www.chaptersfrommylife.com read more...
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UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
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