[India Report] Campaign called ‘Because I Am A Girl’ held in National Assembly

Forbidden Entry For ‘Because I Am A Girl’

A group of school girls gathered Tuesday (July 17) in the precinct of the National Assembly building in Seoul, South Korea, for the promotion of a campaign of an organization. But, they were prevented from entering the National Assembly building, causing a little chaos in front of the main entrance. The incident took place at about nine in the morning.

July 17 was the 64th anniversary of promulgating the South Korean Constitution, and this organization named ‘Plan’ might have aptly chosen this day for the promotion of their campaign. It is a 75 years old organization for the betterment of the ill-fated children from all over the world who are deprived of their rights and liberty and are the victims of poverty.  Plan’s goal is to “achieve aims to get lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries, through a process that unites people across cultures and adds meaning and value to their lives”.

In the morning a group of about thirty school girls gathered in front of the National Assembly building to promote for a campaign called ‘because I am a girl’ which is promoted by Plan. This is a campaign to fight gender inequality which is spreaded throughout the world and for those girls who are less likely to go to school just because they are girls and experience violence and sexual harassment and are forced to work hard on domestic chores, limiting their opportunities to develop.

Girls in support of this campaign were to hold up a campaign along with a photo session in front of the Ntional Assembly premises with the permission of one of the congressmen who was to be present there. As it is the constitutional anniversary,  many statesmen and the congressmen of the country were present there in the place. And the moto of promotion of this campaign on this very day was so that ‘because I am a girl’ may come to the knowledge of the reputed persons and the media personals present in there.

But at their utter astonishment, they were forbidden to enter by the gaurds. They acted so because it is the ‘Constitutional Anniversary’ and the President of Korea were on hand for the ceremony to mark the constitutional anniversary held in the premises. This was security measure taken by the guards to avoid any kind of unwanted situation inside the premises.

Later on they agreed to let the girls in, but did not give the permission to go up climbing the stairs and go exactly in front of the National Assembly premises door and they had to remain down. The girls as well as their parents and the other members of the campaign were a bit offended for the misbehavior of the gaurds. But, the agitation was all over when they started their photo session with the influential and reputed personalities who were present in there and was successful in bringing the whole matter in their notice. Renowned statesman like Mr.Choi Min Hee, Mr.Lee Won Uook, Mr.Honey W Ruk and some others were present there.

Sudhanya Ghosh Intern Reporter news@theasian.asia