-Every day, women and girls are subjected to rape for reasons of politics, social beliefs and even superstitions.
-Betty Makoni established the Girl Child Network in 1999 to champion the rights of girl children, after listening to the horrifying experiences of ten of her female students.
-The Girl Child Network advocates on behalf of girls and empowers them to speak out when their rights are being violated.
-Betty Makoni comes to GSPIA after being a featured speaker at the Pitt conference, “Silent No More: Rape as a Weapon of Political Violence”, Sept. 18-19, http://www.globalhealth.pitt.edu/documents/KABAKCONFERENCE--Flyer--AUGUS...

Betty Makoni is a Zimbabwean child rights activist and founder of the Girl Child Network. She holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees with specialization in English, Socio-linguistics, Development, Gender, Communication, Participatory Development Methods, Management of Grassroots Organizations and Social Anthropology. The Frontline Human Rights Defenders named Ms. Makoni a Human Rights Defender. She also received the prize for Women’s Creativity in Rural Life from the Women’s World Summit Foundation, Switzerland. The Girl Child Network, located in Zimbabwe, is a non-profit organization that provides shelter, food, health and educational support to give sexually abused girls a future. It replicates a best practice model that has secured 26 global awards for excellence. Ms. Makoni is a source of inspiration for many disadvantaged girls who yearn for a better life.