UNFPA and UNICEF have said in a joint statement adolescent girls in The Gambia are demanding a life free of violance from practices such as female genital mutilation.
The country representatives of the two agencies Kunle Adeniyi and Gordon Jonathan Lewis speaking on the on the occasion of International Day of the Girl 2020 said: “As in other parts of the world, adolescent girls in The Gambia are not a homogenous group. Their diversity that emanates from geographical location, ethnicity, age, abilities/disabilities are also some of the differences from which they draw their strength.
“In The Gambia, adolescent girls are starting to lead changes towards a more equal and inclusive country. Some progress has been registered in girls’ education and empowerment, for example, but the pace of progress must be accelerated to match long-standing barriers and the limited opportunities available to them.
“Also, adolescent girls are demanding a life free of violence from certain practices, such as female genital mutilation, child marriage, sexual exploitation and abuse within and outside their homes, as well as in institutions that are meant to protect them.
“Not only do these practices violate a girl’s bodily integrity and autonomy, they steal her confidence and ability to make informed choices about her life. These practices silence the girl child!”
