By: Saidu Jalloh
Over 100 adolescent girls from across West and Central Africa have called for urgent action from regional leaders to protect and promote their rights, declaring that “girls’ rights cannot wait.” The call was made during the West and Central Africa Girls’ Summit, held in Dakar, Senegal, on October 11, 2025, to mark the International Day of the Girl.
Sierra Leone’s delegation was led by the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi, who was accompanied by two adolescent girls and a boy, with support from UNICEF.
“This was not just a gathering; it was a safe space for us to collectively share the challenges we face in society, which are similar in many ways,” said Elizabeth, a participant from Sierra Leone.
Thirty years after the Beijing Declaration on Women’s Rights, the girls noted that progress had been too slow and that promises made by leaders remained largely unfulfilled. They called for urgent measures to end discrimination, gender-based violence, and harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM), while ensuring access to quality education and health services.
The Summit, which followed national consultations held in 24 countries, identified key areas for accelerated action, including making schools inclusive and equitable through scholarships and supportive teachers. Ensuring access to confidential and quality health services. Addressing the impacts of climate change on girls’ lives. Ending child marriage and FGM through education and adolescent-friendly services. Enforcing justice against gender-based violence. Including girls with disabilities in all decision-making processes.
During the two-day meeting, participants developed a declaration urging governments, regional bodies, and international partners to center girls’ voices in policymaking, create safe spaces for dialogue, train professionals to understand girls’ realities, and ensure that commitments move from “paper to practice.”
“We hope this declaration goes beyond words and becomes a true reflection in our lives,” Elizabeth affirmed.
Dr. Isata Mahoi emphasized the need for stronger coordination among institutions to effectively address the issues affecting girls. “No single institution can address the issues of adolescent girls; therefore, it is important we integrate services,” she said. “We can link safe spaces with schools, clinics, and digital platforms through stakeholder and community mobilization by engaging parents, traditional leaders, and male allies to shift norms.”
UNICEF Representative in Sierra Leone, Rudolf Schwenk, who also attended the Summit, commended the girls for their leadership and commitment to change.
“Across Sierra Leone and the region, girls are showing incredible strength, creativity, and leadership,” Schwenk said. “When we listen to girls and invest in their ideas, we unlock solutions that benefit entire communities.”
The West and Central Africa Girls’ Summit is being described as a milestone, marking the first time adolescent girls from across the region have collectively set their own agenda for change. Sherilyn, 18, a member of the West and Central Africa Girls Advisory Board* from Sierra Leone, vowed that the movement will continue beyond Dakar.
“What we declared in Dakar must live in our communities,” she said. “We will not let the conversations end at the Summit; we will turn them into actions. Together, we rise not as echoes, but as a force that cannot be ignored.”
