By: Saidu Jalloh
The Girls Advocacy Network (GADNet), in partnership with UNICEF and other stakeholders, has officially launched the seventh edition of the National Girls Summit, scheduled for October 13–17, 2026, at the Pastoral Center in Kenema City, under the theme “Our Power in Action, Protecting Our Future.”
Speaking at the launch, GADNet Executive Director Hannah Kargbo said the five-day summit has been shaped by the voices and experiences of girls and young people, building on consultations and recommendations from previous editions. She explained that the summit would give girls opportunities to lead discussions, ask questions, design solutions and influence decisions affecting their lives.
Kargbo added that this year’s summit would focus on practical action in areas including adolescent health and wellbeing, financial empowerment, education, digital literacy, technology and responsible participation in the digital space. She stressed that the summit should move beyond discussion to concrete commitments from stakeholders.
Iceland Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Ásdís Bjarnadóttir, reaffirmed Iceland’s commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of girls and young people. She said gender equality remains a cornerstone of Iceland’s foreign policy and development cooperation, while emphasizing that addressing challenges facing girls requires collaboration among government, civil society, development partners and communities.
Bjarnadóttir noted that concerns raised by young people at previous summits had provided important calls to action and expressed hope that the 2026 summit would translate those concerns into concrete measures.
Meanwhile, adolescent representative Sallaymatu Kamara called for greater inclusion of girls, particularly those living with disabilities, in rural communities and those out of school. She said young people are sometimes invited to meetings without being given meaningful decision-making power.
Kamara also raised concerns about sexual and gender-based violence, saying some girls face harassment in schools and may be uncertain about where to report abuse. She further highlighted risks in communities and online, including bullying, sexual exploitation and the sharing of images without consent, and urged stakeholders to strengthen protection and meaningful participation for girls.