By: Abraham Donkor
In a landmark moment for gender equality and youth empowerment, adolescent girls from across West and Central Africa convened in Dakar from October for the first-ever Regional Girls’ Summit. The historic event, held in line with the International Day of the Girl, saw the adoption of the Dakar Declaration and Program of Action for Girls in West and Central Africa — a powerful, girl-led agenda demanding urgent action to secure the rights and future of the region’s 75.5 million adolescent girls.
Organised by UNICEF in partnership with the Government of Senegal, the Summit brought together girls, boys, government leaders, activists, and development partners in a groundbreaking demonstration of youth leadership, determination, and solidarity.
A young participant from Equatorial Guinea Isabel said “We want to be included when our history is written, because our voices matter,”
The declaration comes amid stark challenges facing girls in the region: limited access to quality education and healthcare, high rates of gender-based violence and child marriage, and deeply entrenched discriminatory social norms — all made worse by conflict, economic instability, and the climate crisis.UNICEF Regional Director. Gilles Fagninou,noted that “The statistics on well-being are the worst when we compare West and Central Africa to other regions,” “But the potential for transformation is extraordinary — the return on investment in girls is unmatched.”
What set this summit apart was its fully participatory, girl-led approach. National consultations were held in 24 countries, guided by a Girls’ Advisory Group, ensuring the agenda reflected the voices and aspirations of girls themselves. Lelengda Tchakebera, 16, from Togo indicated that “What I expect as an outcome is that all the laws passed in our different countries will be translated into concrete actions,”
Senegal’s Minister of Women, Family and Child Protection, Maimouna Dièye, applauded the initiative as an “unprecedented partnership with girls” and affirmed that the new agenda will be carried “by girls, for girls.”
The Dakar Declaration outlines six urgent priorities aligned with global development frameworks such as the Beijing Platform for Action and Agenda 2063:
1. Right to Education – Equal, safe, and quality education for all girls.
2. Right to Health and Well-being – Confidential and affordable health services tailored to adolescent needs.
3. Right to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) – Safe sanitation in schools and communities, and reduced water collection burden.
4. Right to Protection – Ending child marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and enforcing laws against violence.
5. Right to Participation and Information – Inclusion in decision-making spaces and protection from online harassment.
6. Fight against Climate Change – Recognising its disproportionate impact on girls and ensuring their involvement in climate policies.
The Summit concluded with high-level political backing. UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Omar Abdi urged leaders to treat the declaration as a benchmark for measurable progress:
“We must not leave this meeting and come back after two years to start from where we were.”
Senegal’s Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko (through the Minister of Family and Solidarity), pledged to circulate the declaration within government, establish an implementation task force, and urged all stakeholders to treat the document as a “binding roadmap,” not just a symbolic statement. This sentiment was echoed by participants like Shekina from Congo Brazzaville, who said: “The statement clearly shows that they took it into account. I will continue to raise awareness in my country.”
Even the boys present embraced the message of allyship. Sampson W. Tweh, 17, from Liberia, remarked: “The Summit made me understand that we boys are not supporters of girls but allies.”
The Dakar Summit marks the beginning of a new era — one where girls lead the charge for their rights and futures. The Dakar Declaration and Program of Action is now a living document, calling for real investments, accountability, and unwavering political will.With one clear message reverberating through Dakar and beyond: “Girls’ rights cannot wait.”
