Update: Sept. 8th, Working Group on Girls

Our monthly meeting began with the good news "The Working Group on Girls" is now incorporated under501 (c)3 status, a coalition of 80 organizations. Sub-Committees were formed for the coming year which will address: Social protection initiatives as related to the Millennium Goals; Education as it encompasses child marriage, girls participating in decision-making, cultural negative practices, FGM; health issues; and special attention given to children in rural areas where poverty keeps the girl-child deprived of her basic human rights. As part of a report sent to the Secretary General, from our office here, we submitted a statement addressing Harmful Practices Affecting the Girl Child as learned from the visit to the Bugando Medical Center, Tanzania, last year. All our efforts as a working group will be cooperating with the CSW 56. The theme proposed for early next year is: "The empowerment of rural women and girls in poverty, hunger eradication, development and current challenges." The committees and the carrying out of programs and activities of each, will play into this theme.