Nepali Girls under Double Threats A Nightmare of Period-Shaming and the Caste System
The Indian movie Pad Man has raised public awareness on menstrual problems in developing countries previously and put the long term challenges on menstruation Indian girls are facing into the global spotlight. Other than India, its neighbouring country Nepal, where most people believe in Hinduism, shares a very similar situation. Menstruation has always been a... Read More
Send Hygiene Kits to Local Grassroots Families in Response to Coronavirus Outbreak
As the new strain of coronavirus spreads, the price of antiviral products such as surgical masks and household cleaners has risen to an unaffordable level for many low-income families. In lack of hygiene supplies, some families have to use a mask repeatedly for days and their safety is at risk. In light of the difficulties... Read More
CEO Shares International and Local Experiences in Child Safeguarding Policy Forum
With the support and sponsorship of Plan International Hong Kong, the Child Safeguarding Policy Forum organised by Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights was successfully held on 16 January 2020 at Hong Kong Scout Centre which attracted nearly a hundred participants from the child related industries. It is everyone’s responsibility to safeguard our children; however,... Read More
「未來11國」尼日利亞危機 女孩權益未趕上經濟發展步伐
高盛銀行在2015年提出「未來11國」名單,指該11個國家有非常大的經濟潛力,除了韓國、越南、孟加拉等外,西非大國尼日利亞榜上有名。 尼日利亞近年取代南非成為非洲最大經濟體,然而在伊斯蘭極端組織的威脅下,人權狀況,特別是女孩權益,一直未有改善。 恐怖勢力擴張 女孩慘成俘擄 極端宗教組織博科聖地(Boko Haram)過去十年間不斷在西非擴大,更歸向令人聞風喪膽的伊斯蘭國,目標是在西非趕盡「污染人心」的西方思想,建立一個伊斯蘭國家。曾為英國殖民地,伊斯蘭與基督教人口各半的尼日利亞自然成為主要戰場之一,大量當地人為逃避戰火,流離失所,成為難民。 2014年4月14日,博科聖地持槍闖入奇博克鎮一所官立中學,綁架了276名女學生,事件令國際社會震驚一時,時任美國第一夫人米歇爾亦加入聲討行列。及後幾年,雖有被擄學生逃出、獲救和獲釋,仍有超過100名女生失蹤;但更可怕的是,這次綁架並非單一事件,而是經常在尼日利亞東北部發生。 博科聖地多次發動襲擊,多個市鎮和村落破爛不堪,人民因擔心博科聖地回來再次施襲而帶着行裝慌忙逃命。 「聖戰女孩」在扭曲環境掙扎求存 縱使博科聖地以叢林作為掩護,行蹤成謎,但從成功逃脫的女孩口中得知,她們很多都被逼皈依伊斯蘭教,成為「戰士」的妻子,為他們生兒育女,以壯大組織勢力。沒有被選中的則會成為性奴、奴隸,甚至「戰士」。 大多女孩在被綁架之時只有十多歲,單單想像她們被擄的畫面也夠恐怖,不難理解她們在死亡威嚇下難以違抗博科聖地的命令。博科聖地還會日夜向女孩灌輸極端的伊斯蘭聖戰思想,扭曲女孩的價值觀,進行可怕的洗腦教育,因而造就了一些願意為組織捨身執行自殺式襲擊的「聖戰女孩」。 奇博克事件過後,博科聖地曾向外界表示有女孩因不斷受強姦而染上愛滋病,該組織的核心成員亦坦承地指出奇博克女生中,大概就只有三分一人倖存,相信有很多女生都捱不過嚴苛的囚禁環境。 艾莎(化名)14歲時被逼嫁給博科聖地戰士,並誕下了一名男嬰。 獲救卻被背叛 信任破裂 當地政府軍一直致力從博科聖地手中營救在大大小小綁架事件中被擄的女孩,並將她們安置在政府軍營地,讓她們靜候回家的時機。多年來成功營救過千人,在外人眼中,政府軍就似是女孩的英雄。 可是,現實沒這麼理想。2018年,有從營地離開的女孩向志願組織揭發在政府軍營地出現嚴重性剝削事件。女生指政府軍兵要求她們以性換取食糧及生活必需品,反抗的話會遭受暴力對待,軍人亦會向她們的孩子施虐,大罵他們是恐怖份子的兒女。女孩從沒想過期待以久的曙光帶來的竟是另一個地獄,被可信靠的人背叛使她們一生蒙上揮之不去的陰影。 家人 還是兩面不是人? 2017年5月,博科聖地釋放82名奇博克女生,以換取政府釋放被捕組織成員以及合共300萬歐元的贖金。不過,一個消息令社會恐慌並對獲釋女孩有所避諱:原定有83名女生獲釋,但其中一人卻選擇留在囚禁之地。 社會陷入恐慌的原因大可歸咎於博科聖地多年來的作戰方式。由於他們會利用被洗腦的女孩施行襲擊,外界猜想女孩已經成為了恐怖份子,或有一天會向他們施襲。故此,即使受害女孩回到自己老家,仍面對大量歧視和辱罵,不單是旁人,連家人都對她們避之則吉。面對被孤立的處境,女孩心中的牆築得更高。 即使身邊的人接納逃走出來的女孩,女孩自身亦要跨過重重心理關口,需長時間接受心理輔導,以撫平博科聖地在她們身上留下的傷痕。 打開心扉 重建人生 國際培幼會以守護女孩權益為首要任務,決心為這群經歷多次傷害的倖存者重建生活,因而展開「促進學習計劃」,給予女孩接受教育的機會,追回學習的時光,並且教授她們職業技能,讓她們能夠賺取收入為生,亦協助她們重建價值觀,不再落入極端思想中;此外亦成立兒童友善小組,為女孩提供心理支援服務,並讓有相同經歷的女孩聚集,互相分享困難及彼此支持。 尼日利亞的人權狀況能否改善,相信還有賴國際社會的關注以及支援,您可以支持「愛‧女孩」捐款計劃,使國際培幼會繼續幫助在世界各地活在困境中的女孩,讓她們重拾應有的生活。 11歲時被擄走的阿美娜(化名)從前未有機會讀書,現在透過國際培幼會的「促進學習計劃」,得以接觸書本,希望以知識改變命運。
The Story behind Nigerian Girls Kidnapping
We might have heard of the shocking news that a group of 276 were kidnapped from a secondary school in Northeast Nigeria in 2014. Boko Haram, a terrorist group which aims to establish an Islamic totalitarian start in Northern Nigeria, has been on a constant battle with the Nigerian army for years and they are... Read More
Run for Girls’ Rights 2020
Join Us and Help Girls Run Towards a Better Future! Run for Girls is a charity run co-organised by Plan International Hong Kong and Cosmopolitan with the aim of fighting for and promoting girls’ rights and justice, as well as protecting girls in developing countries from discrimination, inequality and violence. Part of the proceeds this... Read More
Child marriage from another perspective
Child marriage is a common but complex issue. Most of us may think that the lack of education opportunities and unreasonable traditions are the root causes of the issue. This time, we will look at it from the perspective of household manpower and uxorilocality. In Ratanakiri, a remote area of Cambodia, 59% of children get... Read More
Tender Notice for ‘Community-based Child Participatory Practice Model’
Tender Deadline: January 3, 2020 (Friday) 5:30pm It is the right of every child to be heard. It’s not only their basic right but also can facilitate the fulfilment of children’s basic rights to protection and development. As children have a better understanding of their situation, we have to listen to their needs and opinions... Read More
Psychosocial support: Seminar and workshop on facilitating psychosocial wellbeing of children
Plan International has experiences in handling children’s psychological distress in many conflict areas and the Hong Kong office has been proactively organising a seminar and workshop regarding the recent social incident. Child protection experts from other Plan International offices are invited to share their experiences in how to deal with children’s psychological distress under conflicts... Read More
A Tradition That Causes Pain
“‘A girl who hasn’t been cut won’t get a husband.’ That’s what people used to say,” assured Fatoumata, a 55-year-old grandmother. In a lot of countries, female genital mutilation (FGM/ cutting) is still commonly adopted, claiming that it can ensure the purity and virginity of girls before marriage. Mali is one of the countries. According... Read More








