Girls in Kabala, Koinadugu District, have called for stronger action to end child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) at an advocacy symposium organised by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) Sierra Leone in partnership with Happy Kids, with funding support from the Government of Iceland.
The event, held on Saturday, October 10, 2026, to mark the International Day of the Girl Child, was organised under the theme “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”
It brought together girls from anti-FGM school clubs, Mother Champions, FGM Survivors Networks and Gal Pikin Pawa school clubs to promote girls’ rights and strengthen community efforts to end harmful practices.
The symposium highlighted how child marriage and pregnancy can disrupt girls’ education, limit their future employment opportunities and undermine their economic independence.
Participants stressed the importance of protecting girls from harmful practices and ensuring that they can complete their education and make informed decisions about their futures.
The gathering also provided a platform for girls to share their concerns, raise awareness about the consequences of child marriage and FGM, and advocate for greater protection of their rights.
UNFPA Sierra Leone said the initiative seeks to empower girls with knowledge, strengthen their voices and encourage community action to eliminate harmful practices. It also emphasised the need to protect every girl’s right to education, bodily autonomy and a future of her choosing.
Through the involvement of school clubs, survivors’ networks and community advocates, the symposium aimed to strengthen collective efforts to end child marriage and FGM and create safer environments where girls can learn, lead and thrive.
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