When Girls Took Over the United Nations

Temilolu at the UN

It was a most unforgettable day for the pre-teens and teenage girls from all over the world who gathered at the Trusteeship Council Chambers of the United Nations Headquarters in New York for a summit to celebrate the 2015 International Day of the Girl.

The stage performances of the Working Group on Girls, their speeches and their amazing intellectuality at such a young age must have made an indelible impression on the mind of every girl and convinced them that they have the world at their feet no matter what the situation is right now.

As an adult, I was awestruck. I was delighted that girls could think the way the performers expressed themselves and even happier that other girls could experience them. Even the most repressed soul would have been sensitised to speak. I thank God for the opportunity to be invited for a cause I’m so passionate about. Alas, Africa was poorly represented. I was there to represent the Girls Club of Nigeria and also doubled informally as the Nigerian representative. Sadly, I didn’t come across any other person from Nigeria at the summit.

Most of the issues showcased are issues paralysing the destiny of girls and the female folk in Africa such as child marriage, female genital mutilation, child abuse, sexual harassment, rape amongst others. Akila from Egypt told us about her mother, who married her father when she was 14 and got pregnant at 16. Unfortunately, things are worse for this generation of girls, as one out of three girls is forced into early marriage before the age of 18.

Valentina from Colombia told her story of the domestic violence she witnessed in her own home. And in the world today, every 10 minutes one girl dies out of violence. Gillian from the United States opened up about her experience as a pregnant teen who was kicked out of the house. Aria from Brazil told about her experience with sexual harassment during the World Cup.

Camilla of Nicaragua told us how she only got an education up until 5th grade while her brothers continued their education long after that. Maya shed some light on the issue of Female Genital Mutilation, which she had to undergo at the age of 5. However, Fatima, Chioma and Modupe were nowhere to be found to talk about their experiences in Nigeria the citadel of child marriage, female oppression etc.

The Deputy Executive Director, UN Women in her speech wished the girl child had started speaking out earlier opining that life would have been a lot better for the female folk today. She affirmed the commitment of the United Nations Women towards empowering all females starting from their childhood, freeing them from all forms of discrimination, violence and ensuring they have equal opportunities in education and access to all resources boys have access to.

No doubt the girls who performed at the summit rewrote the history of the girl and one can only pray that other girls all over the world would join hands together to fight for the good life they are entitled to. If they don’t speak out about their discomfort, who would?
Girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years, but also as they mature into women. If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world-both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors and political leaders.