Ms. Nafisa Binte Shafique, UNICEF Gambia Representative
By Ramatoulie Jawo
Ms. Nafisa Binte Shafique, the UNICEF Gambia country representative, issued a press statement to celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, joining the global community in recognizing the importance of this day.
She highlighted that this year’s theme, “Girls’ Vision for the Future”, underscores the urgent need for action to ensure every girl can achieve her full potential.
“The Gambia has made significant strides in its investment in equal rights and opportunities, particularly in education and gender equality. “Girls’ enrolment in school has improved and year after year, girls keep strengthening their attainments. Just this year, 791 girls scored 5 credits and above, including English and Mathematics, in the 2024 WASSCE results. Bravo,” her statement indicated.
Ms. Shafique noted the decline in child marriage over the past decade in some parts of the country and the recent success in preventing the proposed repeal of the law banning FGM, signaling hope for the protection of girls from all forms of abuse and violence.
She emphasized that girls are repositioning themselves as leaders and beacons of hope for their communities. Today, more than ever, they must come together to build on these milestones.
“Despite the progress made, unfortunately, 1 in 4 young women in The Gambia were married before the age of 18, 50% of girls below the age of 15 undergo FGM and many more continue to be denied their basic rights to education, health, nutrition, hygiene, and protection. Too often, they face discrimination, violence, and unequal opportunities simply because they are girls. Girls with disabilities face compounded discrimination due to both their gender and disability, leading to exclusion from essential services, increased vulnerability to violence and limited participation in decision-making. This intersectional discrimination hinders their potential and requires targeted interventions to ensure we leave no girl behind,” her statement reads.
Ms. Shafique affirmed that UNICEF and the entire UN family remain committed to working with the Government of The Gambia and all partners to ensure the protection of girls and the safeguarding of their rights, as enshrined in the UNCRC, CEDAW, and UNCRPD, and domesticated through various national laws.
Reflecting on the challenges girls face, she called for collective commitment to be part of the solution: “We encourage everyone to advocate for policies and services that support girls’ education, health, and empowerment. Let us build the capacity of every duty bearer including parents, teachers, religious leaders, service providers and others to ensure an enabling and protective environment for the girls, where they can thrive,
She highlighted that, according to the recent Census, there are more than 300,000 adolescent girls in The Gambia.
“Imagine each of them as bright stars full of potentials and possibilities, if we can ensure 300 thousand lights are shining to the fullest, the Gambia will outshine in the region and in the world. Let us all nurture the 300 thousand plus lights and invest in them, the incredible outcome is guaranteed,” her statement concluded.