Challenges of Reaching the Girls Left Behind

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Challenges of Reaching the Girls Left Behind

• Judith Bruce
• Population Council
• 2 December 2005

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An overarching challenge

• How can we make a convincing argument for
  continuing investment in Latin America in light
  of the growing perception that it is a middle
  income region?

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An overarching challenge

• Potentially the strongest argument is
• Intergenerational poverty, high and unwanted
  fertility, poor health - including poor
  reproductive health - have common roots in the
  early adolescence of girls in the poorest
  communities.

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Situación de niñas mayas según edad
Fuente Hallman et al. 2005, ENCOVI 2000
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Specific challenges of reaching the girls left
behind
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Fill in the policy gap between childhood and
adulthood
Schooling Life skills, positive
self-concept Healthy habits, physical strength,
health information/services Civic participation
and documentation, knowledge of their rights
Financial literacy and livelihoods

CHILDHOOD
ADULTHOOD
ADOLESCENCE
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Learn who the current beneficiaries of youth and
development programs are and retarget for equity
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Work on behalf of girls first by working directly
with them while managing hierarchies that limit
them and take the resources dedicated to them
National policies/framework of law
LIMITED ACCESS Peripheral cities Rural
areas Poorer indigenous communities Rank and
file of dominant group/leadership of minority
group Poorer, fragmented families Senior
females Indigenous and poor girls
FAVORABLE ACCESS Capital cities Other urban
areas Richer communities Community leadership
of dominant group In tact, richer
families Senior males Junior males
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Create a social infrastructure (reliably
available spaces, friends, mentors) with and for
indigenous girls

• Adult males dominate communities and families and
  freely meet in the public space
• Boys dominate female peers and siblings and have
  many gathering places
• Married women with children have some
  decision-making authority, including over girl
  children, and some belong to womens
  organizations
• BUT girls are dispersed in households with little
  affiliation to other girls and (whether in or out
  of school) no places outside of school to meet
  friends safely

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Girls need a common space
Family 2
Family 1
Safe space
Family 3
Family 4
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Evolve strategies to address gender norms, which
put girls perceptions of the persons and
institutions in their environment that limit them
at the center
male peers
employers
vulnerablegirls
fathers
teachers
mothers
brothers
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Promote rights based policies and programs, which
recognize that for girls and women rights begin
at home no one is free or equal if they are not
safe and respected at home
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Find the balance between protective and
empowerment strategies that acknowledge the
evolving capacity of girls
Young adolescents need
and and and and
The experience of leadership A voice to express
themselves Reliance on self and peers Ability
to express own views

• Protection
• Advocacy on their behalf
• Support of mentors
• To receive wisdom from others

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Institutionalize change at the community level as
girls - especially empowered girls - move rapidly
and their individual accomplishments are often
lost to the community
Secure

• A dedicated space for girls
• Sustainable support for community based mentors
• Annual community affirmation, such as issuing ID
  cards, opening savings accounts, health checks
• A significant proportion of participation among
  eligible girls and their families (ideally 30)

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MUCHAS GRACIAS!