MOGADISHU, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Somalia and the United Nations (UN) agencies joined the rest of the world to mark the International Day of the Girl Child on Wednesday by pledging to continue promoting the rights of Somali girls.
Abdihakim Jimale Aden, Somali deputy minister in the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development, reiterated the government's strong commitment to tackling persistent human rights issues like child marriage, female genital mutilation, and lack of educational access that continue to severely impact Somali girls.
"We must proactively create an environment where every girl has a fair chance to learn, grow and achieve her dreams free from discrimination and harm," he said in a joint statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
The event brought together more than 200 participants including government officials, UN representatives, youth activists, civil society groups, community elders, journalists and development partners.
Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, the United Nations Children's Fund representative in Somalia, called for a more participatory approach in protecting the well-being of women and girls.
"We cannot make progress without listening directly to girls themselves, to understand their lived realities, hopes and ideas for positive change," Abdelatef said.
Participants also called for more targeted investments in the health, education, protection and empowerment of Somali girls to tap their enormous potential so as to catalyze national progress.
During the event, an innovative new project aimed at improving women and girls' access to quality maternal and newborn healthcare across Somalia was also launched. The 2.7 million U.S. dollar "Healthier Somali Women and Girls" project will strengthen maternal and child health services in marginalized communities of Southern and Central regions of Somalia.
