UN Women, Partners Launch Countdown to 7th National Girls Summit
UN Women Sierra Leone, with support from the Embassy of Iceland in Freetown, joined the Girls Advocacy Development Network and partners for a press conference in Freetown on Friday, 18th September 2026, ahead of the 7th National Girls Summit 2026.
The press conference, held under the theme “Girls have the ideas. Girls have the voice. Girls are ready to lead,” was organised to create space for girls and young people across Sierra Leone to speak up, share their ideas, influence decisions, and shape a more inclusive future.
Organisers said the event marks the countdown to the Summit, scheduled for 13th-17th October 2026 in Kenema District.
Speaking at the event, UN Women representative emphasized that empowering girls goes beyond giving them a seat at the table.
“Empowering girls is more than giving them a voice – it means listening to them, investing in their potential and creating opportunities for them to lead,” the organization said in a statement.
“At UN Women, we believe that empowering Girls goes beyond giving them a seat at the table. It means listening to their voices, investing in their potential, breaking barriers to their participation, and creating opportunities for them to lead and thrive. When girls are empowered to lead, they become powerful agents of change who drive progress for their communities and the nation,” it added.
According to UN Women, the partnership with Girls Advocacy Development Network and other stakeholders is aimed at ensuring meaningful participation of girls in national development.
“As we count down to the Summit from 13th-17th October 2026 in Kenema District, UN Women remains committed to ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to participate meaningfully, influence decisions, and turn her priorities into action,” the statement read.
The 7th National Girls Summit is expected to bring together girls and young women from across the country, development partners, government officials, and civil society organizations to discuss issues affecting girls, including education, leadership, health, and gender equality.
The campaign concluded with a message of commitment: “When girls lead, communities prosper. When girls thrive, nations succeed.”