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'The world agrees with us,' says GCN's Betty Makoni
Bertha Shoko, The Standard (Zimbabwe)
September 03, 2006

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/viewinfo.cfm?linkid=11&id=4681

FOR Betty Makoni, the director and founder of Girl Child Network (GCN), clinching the Joint United Nations programme on HIV and Aids Red Ribbon Award and attaining worldwide recognition, has more than convinced her that her organisation is on the right track to addressing the root causes of HIV and Aids.

Makoni’s GCN recently scooped the first prize of this prestigious award in what judges said was in recognition of its "outstanding and remarkable role in addressing gender inequities that drive the HIV and Aids epidemic".

GCN was named winner ahead of 20 other non-governmental organisations and was presented with the award in Toronto, Canada where the 16th International Aids Conference was held recently.

Speaking to Standardhealth on her return from Canada, Makoni said the US$10 000 award had certainly boosted her confidence and showed that the "world agrees with GCN’s girl-child centred strategy" in dealing with HIV and Aids.

Makoni said GCN’s worldwide recognition confirmed that the world also agreed with the fact that the girl child was more vulnerable to sexual abuse because of the age and gender peculiarities, and as such any interventions should recognise this.

This vulnerability to sexual abuse plus exposure to other harmful religious and cultural practices make them even more prone to HIV infection, Makoni said.

According to UNAIDS, four out of five new infections in Zimbabwe in the 15-24-year-old age group in 2005, were among girls.

While statistics from the GCN show that 3 900 girls were reportedly raped between September 2005 and January 2006, in the period between January to September last year, 6 000 girls were raped. This, according to Makoni, is the reason why in the first place GCN pursued this "girl child strategy".

Makoni said: "Since GCN was formed many people have asked us why we have had to focus specifically on the girl child. Our answer has always been that because girls are more vulnerable to sexual abuse and subsequently HIV and Aids. The statistics are there to show this. It’s not a figment of our imagination.

"Now with this award, I must say the GCN team has never felt this rewarded and confident. We are certainly convinced that we are on the right track by addressing the gender inequities that fuel the pandemic.

"It is an undeniable fact that young girls are more vulnerable to HIV infection compared to their male counterparts. The world and Aids community are through with that debate. We know it is fact and it’s up to us do something about it."

Makoni said GCN’s stance on fighting HIV and Aids by empowering young girls was now being used as a model by the donor community to advise other aspiring child rights organisations.

She said: "Quite a number of donors are backing our girl child strategy and are even advising existing and aspiring child and women rights organisations to take on board what we are doing. This is the feedback we have been receiving and we are proud that the world has finally recognised us through this award."

Once a victim of sexual abuse at an early age, Makoni said she has emerged even stronger and more passionate about fighting child sexual abuse.

She said: "I am driven even much more to fight sexual abuse, HIV and Aids, fight gender imbalances and empower young girls. I believe my own experience was definitely a calling and promise to continue my work with passion."

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