Over 100 adolescent girls from 24 countries across West and Central Africa gathered in Dakar for the regional United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Girls’ Summit on October 10, 2025. Progress since the Beijing Declaration has been too slow and promises unfulfilled. Key demands presented by the girls included: inclusive and quality education (including scholarships and life-skills training), accessible and confidential health services, urgent action on climate change (which disproportionately impacts girls), elimination of child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM), strengthened laws and justice responses to gender-based violence, and full inclusion of girls with disabilities in all decision-making. The summit marked the first time that adolescent girls across the region defined their own agenda and are actively challenging leaders to listen and keep their commitments.
Compiled From: Halimatou Amadou and Moussa Diop, “‘Girls’ Rights Cannot Wait’ – West and Central Africa’s Girls Demand Action from Leaders,” UNICEF, Oct. 10 2025.