{"id":99162,"date":"2025-10-18T12:53:56","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T12:53:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=99162"},"modified":"2025-10-18T12:53:56","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T12:53:56","slug":"regional-girls-summit-in-dakar-marks-turning-point-with-adoption-of-groundbreaking-dakar-declaration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=99162","title":{"rendered":"Regional Girls\u2019 Summit in Dakar marks turning point with adoption of groundbreaking Dakar Declaration"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>3 Minute, 37 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
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Adolescent girls from across West and Central Africa (WCA) convened in Dakar on October 10-11, 2025, for the inaugural Regional Girls\u2019 Summit.<\/p>\n

The summit, organised by UNICEF and the Government of Senegal, and coinciding with the International Day of the Girl, culminated in the adoption of the \u201cDakar Declaration and Program of Action for Girls in West and Central Africa.\u201d<\/strong> <\/p>\n

This essential roadmap, girl-led, demands urgent action from leaders to secure their rights and transform their future.<\/p>\n

Supported by adolescent boys, the girls demonstrated their fervent determination to reshape the narrative for the region\u2019s 75.5 million adolescent girls. The summit marked a crucial turning point, emphasising that girls, no longer content to be mere beneficiaries, are now at the forefront of change.<\/p>\n

A Region Facing Deep-Seated Challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n

West and Central Africa continues to grapple with some of the world\u2019s most severe challenges for adolescent girls: limited access to education and health services, pervasive gender-based violence, early marriage, and discriminatory social norms. These issues are exacerbated by climate crises, conflicts, and economic instability.<\/p>\n

\"Regional<\/figure>\n

UNICEF Regional Director, Gilles Fagninou, underscored the severity of the situation: \u201cThe statistics on well-being are the worst when we compare West and Central Africa to other regions of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, he insisted on the potential for transformation: \u201cWhere there is a small opportunity for the girl, the return on investment for the community or country, for the region and for the world, has been unparalleled.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Summit Forged by Girls, For Girls<\/strong><\/p>\n

This summit distinguished itself through its fundamentally participatory and girl-led approach. National consultations took place across 24 countries, guided by a Girls\u2019 Advisory Group.<\/p>\n