03/25/2024 – 07:38
The West Africa Adolescent Girls Summit (AGS), a trailblazing event that places adolescent girls at the forefront of discussions surrounding their rights and empowerment, will take place March 26–29, 2024 in Monrovia.
This summit builds on the success and positive reception of the inaugural pilot event, held in 2022. With the technical support of Global Fund for Children and its local partners in West Africa, adolescent girls and boys aged 13–19 have led the event planning, setting the stage for a gathering that amplifies the voices of adolescents, who are often overlooked in decision-making spaces.
Adolescents are a significant demographic in West and Central Africa, constituting about a quarter of the population, and their numbers are projected to grow. As a group, adolescent girls face challenges that adolescent boys do not, including child marriage, early pregnancy, and harmful traditional practices. According to the World Bank, “investing in adolescent girls’ wellbeing, education, and empowerment is crucial for building human capital, fostering economic growth, and achieving sustainable development in Africa.”
‘’Common misconceptions about adolescents being inexperienced, apathetic, or incapable of contributing meaningfully to discussions lead to their exclusion from decision-making processes. Recognizing the importance of amplifying adolescent girls’ voices is not only a matter of justice but also a strategic investment in the future, particularly the future of Africa,’’ said Ame Atsu David, Regional Co-Director for Africa at Global Fund for Children.
The AGS seeks to break barriers by providing a platform for adolescent girls, particularly those from marginalized communities, to connect, share experiences, amplify their voices, and collectively advocate for their rights. Recognizing that gender justice is everyone’s responsibility, boys are included in the event as allies, challenging gender stereotypes and promoting positive norms around masculinity.
“I had never before been in a platform where 80% of the participants were adolescents, my peers,” said Khalida Tamu, a 2022 AGS participant. “I was happy to see that girls can make decisions and discuss on issues they face and lead the process. In many gatherings, it has been older people leading and making decisions; therefore, the feeling of me as an adolescent owning the space was extraordinary.”
The summit will bring together 200 adolescent girls and boys, along with government officials and various stakeholders, from several countries in West Africa, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. Key topics on the agenda include adolescent mental health, climate change, adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights, child marriage, female genital cutting, human rights, diversity, girls’ education, peer pressure management, and drug abuse prevention.
One of the unique aspects of the summit is its focus on providing a direct platform for adolescent girls to speak truth to power. High-level stakeholders, including community leaders and policymakers, will engage with the young participants, setting the stage for a groundbreaking shift in the feminist movement by placing girls at its center. By amplifying girls’ voices, the summit challenges the historical silencing of girls in societal dialogues, fostering a sense of agency and empowerment.
The AGS will culminate with a panel discussion featuring influential dignitaries, including the First Lady of Liberia. A call to action will be presented to stakeholders, and a press conference will communicate outcomes to the public.
The AGS is not just an event; it is a movement that mobilizes adolescent girls and boys, rallying them to spark transformative change at the family, community, national, and regional levels. It is intricately woven into the fabric of the work undertaken by local Global Fund for Children partners, creating a collaborative ecosystem that empowers adolescent girls and boys to be influential change agents.
