On the International Day of the Girl Child, celebrated annually on October 11, UNICEF has called for greater advocacy to support policies and services that promote girls’ education, health, and empowerment.
UNICEF emphasized the importance of strengthening the capacity of all stakeholders—parents, teachers, religious leaders, and service providers—to create a safe and supportive environment for girls to thrive. Nafisa Binte Shafique, UNICEF The Gambia Representative, highlighted the need to invest in girls’ rights and provide equal opportunities, as the organization joined global communities in celebrating the day.
The theme for this year’s event, “Girls’ Vision for the Future,” underscores the urgency to ensure that every girl reaches her full potential. The Gambia has made significant progress in promoting gender equality and education, with notable improvements in girls’ school enrollment and achievements. In 2024, 791 girls scored 5 credits or more, including English and Mathematics, in the WASSCE results.
Shafique also pointed to a reduction in child marriage in parts of the country over the last decade and praised efforts to prevent the repeal of laws banning Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), signaling hope for the protection of girls from abuse and violence.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain. One in four young women in The Gambia is married before turning 18, and 50% of girls under 15 experience FGM. Many girls are still denied basic rights such as education, healthcare, nutrition, and protection. Girls with disabilities face even greater discrimination, further limiting their access to essential services and participation in decision-making.
Shafique reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment, alongside the UN and the Gambian government, to protect girls’ rights through national and international laws. She urged everyone to be part of the solution, ensuring the success of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and The Gambia’s National Development Plan 2023-2027.
As girls share their vision for the future, she stressed the importance of listening and working together to create safe spaces for them to excel in all fields, including Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. The future of girls, she said, is an investment that must begin now.
With more than 300,000 adolescent girls in The Gambia, Shafique encouraged everyone to see each girl as a beacon of potential, urging the nation to nurture these “300,000 lights” to achieve extraordinary outcomes for the country.
