The African Girl Child: From Girl to Woman

The key note speaker was Dr. Nawal Nour, M.D., M.P.H. Instructor, Obstetrics
and Gynecology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School,
Boston, MA. Dr. Nour received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School
in 1994 and completed a chief residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Brigham
and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1998. She established an
African women’s health practice that provides appropriate health and outreach
programs to the African community in Boston. Her focus on health and policy
issues regarding female circumcision/female genital mutilation, both locally and
internationally is providing the much needed attention for African women in the
area and throughout the United States. She was the primary author of a slide kit
created to educate obstetricians-gynecologists on the medical management of
circumcised women. Her pioneer health work with African women has won
acclaim from the medical and other professions as well as the media. In 1999
Associated Press wired a story about her work and this year The New York
Times featured her efforts in a major article.

  1-The African girl child and education:

     · Changes in educational opportunities after Beijing Conference.
      · The effect of civil society in creating opportunities.
     · Curricula for girls schools and how they discriminate or prefer the girl child.

  2- Family law and the African Child:

   · Divorce of parents and its consequences for the girl child
   · Early marriage and its effect on the health and status of girls.
   · National and international rules against child marriage .

  3- Social and Religious Issues Affecting the African Girl Child

   · Social barriers and/or opportunities for girls development.
   · Religious norms and their effect on girls social development.

  4- Violence Against African Girl Child

   · War and its effect on the girl child. This may address: refugee
camps, after war disasters e.g. landmines, homelessness and
adapting to new conditions and surroundings.
   · Cultural practices and the violation of the rights of the girl
child.
   · Exploring the strength of local cultures: how do local
cultures protect children. Why are local practices more, less
effective for the protection of children

  5- Poverty and the African Girl Child

   · Globalization and the future of the African girl child.
   · Street children: Reasons for the absence or presence of girls
within this group of children.

Asma Abdel Halim
Institute for the African Child
E-mail: aa114488@ohio.edu