International Day of the Girl 2023 — UNICEF’s AGAB demonstrate their leadership in Yaoundé, Cameroon
The excitement of the girls in the room that afternoon was almost palpable. The ten adolescent girls had spent weeks preparing for this day, and finally the 11th of October 2023 was here.
The significance of the day was not lost on the Adolescents girls. It was particularly special for them for two reasons: Each year, 11th October marks the International Day of the Girl, celebrated and observed all over the world to spotlight issues concerning Adolescent girls.
The theme for the 2023 International Day of the Girl is “Invest in Girls’ Rights: our leadership; our well-being.” In perfect harmony with the theme, 11th of October was chosen to launch the first of the Adolescent Girls Advisory Boards (AGAB) in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The Minister responsible for the Promotion of Women and Family affairs (MinPROFF) presided over the official ceremony, while Djaili Amal, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, a renowned writer and currently a mentor for AGAB, took her place as the Guest Speaker.
Among the audience were their parents, their NGO facilitators, coaches, and peers, all looking on with pride. UNICEF staff, UN Agencies, associations working with Adolescent Girls and partners implementing programmes around the capital in the bid to facilitate the inclusion of persons in situations of handicap were present to witness the AGAB girls demonstrate their leadership and speak to the issues relating to adolescent wellbeing.
The Adolescent girls took charge of the launch event and conducted it as they themselves had prepared it: introducing and ushering speakers to the podium, engaging the audience with spontaneous questions, presenting the young female supporting guest artistes (slameuses) for the occasion, and projecting the advocacy film they had produced on their various activities in their respective communities.
Their delegates also held mini conferences with the Minister and UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador as their two-member panel.Speaking to the range of issues being addressed by each of the Adolescent girls, Nadine Perrault UNICEF Representative, pointed out that “they are so intricately linked, that they raise the stakes even higher when it comes to providing a protection environment for the development of adolescent girls”. She encouraged the Adolescent girls “to take their rightful place as leaders of today, and not of tomorrow, or in the future.”
Fifteen-year-old Nafissatou’s fight is against child marriage, one of the causes of school dropouts for girls, while Brenda denounces violence within the school environment, and the use of drugs and narcotics by young people.
Julienne is concerned about the inadequate dialogue between parents and children, while Gloria feels that discussions about adolescent mental health are not sufficiently addressed. Samira’s efforts are towards getting adolescent reproductive health to be part of family discussions. Jessica, on the other hand, is interested in issues related to sexual violence and preventing teenage pregnancy.
Yvana in turn, combats the prevention and spread of HIV/AIDS among her adolescent peers. Damaris is committed to protecting the environment, while Noëlla’s focus is on raising awareness about the harmful effects of certain actions that lead to climate change. Lydia advocates for the inclusion of persons in situations of handicap, so that no one is left behind in all of these actions.
Yaoundé’s AGAB launch is the first. The regions of Bertoua, Maroua and Buea where UNICEF offices are present and operational will also take turns to formalise their burgeoning AGAB groups.
This is part of UNICEF’s drive to promote effective participation of children and adolescents as prescribed by the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in the Cameroon Country Programme.
