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Ayushmann Khurrana Shares A Thought-Provoking Message On International Day For The Girl Child
Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana is a thought-leader who is aiming to bring constructive, positive changes in society with his progressive, conversation starting entertainers. Ayushmann, voted as one of the most influential people of the world by TIME Magazine, has been recently appointed as UNICEF's Celebrity Advocate for their global campaign EVAC (Ending Violence Against Children).
On International Day for the Girl Child, Ayushmann has a special message to the people of our country.
The
actor
said,
"As
UNICEF's
Celebrity
Advocate
towards
ending
violence
against
children,
I
firmly
believe
that
discrimination
and
violence
against
girls
is
unacceptable
and
holds
us
back
as
a
developed
and
caring
society.
COVID-19
has
added
to
the
challenges
faced
by
girls.
With
limited
access
to
mobiles
or
the
internet,
girls
have
faced
restrictions
in
accessing
remote
learning
and
in
having
their
health,
nutritional
and
social
needs
treated
on
par
with
the
boys
in
their
families."
He
adds,
"At
the
same
time
lockdowns
for
COVID
prevention
have
increased
incidence
of
gender-based
violence.
Latest
data
from
National
Crime
Records
Bureau
(NCRB)
shows
that
child
marriages
have
increased
by
as
much
as
50%
during
the
pandemic."
He further added, "On the International Day of the Girl Child, we need to draw attention to the many challenges and discriminations girls face; promote girls' empowerment and ensure their human rights. We need to prioritize girls' education, treat their rights on par with those of boys, provide them with skills and livelihood opportunities and engage with boys and men to address patriarchal mindsets."
Ayushmann also highlighted his goalposts as an EVAC advocate in India to educate people about the needs of the girl child. He said, "My aim is to initiate powerful conversations that help all of us understand the challenges girls continue to live and grow with even today, and how we all can and must play our part in changing this. There are few simple ways in which we can all begin to make a difference."
Ayushmann explained, "The first step is towards making ourselves aware of our own actions, within our own families. Can we be aware of the small ways in which girls are discriminated against at home, such as eating after their brothers, not allowed to play outside, denied/restricted access to phones and the internet, different curfew times for girls and boys are a few that come to mind. Ending these practices, one family at a time, will change how we value girls and respect them."
He added, "Secondly, with schools beginning to safely re-open now, it's important that all parents send their children, including girls back to school, while ensuring COVID protocols. Girls who finish school are less likely to marry young. Education and skilling contribute to making girls assertive in the decisions that shape their lives. This leads to better results for children--both girls and boys--and creates a social environment where they can better achieve their full potential."
The actor stated, "A lack of value on girls' education leads to a high incidence of child marriage, which perpetuates an intergenerational cycle of violence, poverty and ill-health. Even though India has made significant gains towards reducing the incidence of child marriage, one out of three child brides still lives in India. Finally and importantly, as parents, friends, peers we must engage with boys and men to promote positive gender practices and norms and end the culture of violence."
