14 October 2024
© Zonta District 29
The celebration of the Girl’s child Day took place in Yamoussoukro, political and administrative capital of Côte d’Ivoire, under the High Patronage of UNESCO and the institutional support of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Foundation for the Search of Peace.
2024 Theme | ‘Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now’
It’s a call to acknowledge the importance and relevance of human rights in our everyday lives. The declaration is available in 577 languages, from Abkhaz to Zulu, making the UDHR the most translated document in the world.
The NGO group “Voix des Filles'” led a successful celebration together with the local branches and national NGOs.
It was sponsored by the highest authorities of Ivory Coast: The first Lady Dominique Ouattara – The President of the Ivorian Senate Kandia Camara as godmother, the Minister for Women, Family and Children – Madame Haidara Coulibaly, representing Monsieur Omar Diop, Director of the UNESCO Office in Abidjan.
All these personalities demonstrate the unwavering commitment and support of the Ivorian state to raise awareness and encourage girls to reach their full potential and thrive in an environment conducive to their physical.
Mr Jean Bolly Kouassi President of the NGO “voice of girls” section Côte d’Ivoire (VDF-CI) organized the day with the theme: The vision of girls for the future.
A project driven since 2018
A large panel on education issues has furnished this celebration with the particular problem of early pregnancies in school. Insights were given on actions carried out in the field, including management of menstrual hygiene and sport. A first axis is a project already started this year in a school group of the largest municipality of Côte d’Ivoire Yopougon. All these activities aim to keeping girls in school during the critical period of menstruation to boost their academic performance, which often drops because of menstrual insecurity.
In a room of 400 seats practically full, young girls played sketches, recited poems and launched an appeal called «Yamoussoukro’s Appeal» to show their wishes for a better future – The girls population ( 0 to 17) is more than 6 million, 22.84% of the population.
Such success is compelling – Thousands of thanks to Marguerite Akossi ZC Abidjan for her hard work with the “Voices of the Girls/Côte d’Ivoire” group – The Zonta International team in UNESCO Paris will be back on track shortly, as we have measured with joy the success that this event has achieved.
During our visit to Côte d’Ivoire for the International Day of the Girl, young Ivorians launched the Yamassoukro appeal.
