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Oxfam in Niger celebrates the first International Day of the Girl
“More than 30% of teenage girls are married before their 15th birthday.”
On October 11th, Oxfam in Niger celebrated the International Day of the Girl, and with good reason. The wellbeing and future of generations to come depends largely on today’s girls and their health, education and economic status.
- More than 40% of the world population live on less than $2 per day, of which 67% are women and girls
- Women represent 67% of illiterate people in the world.
Clearly girls need all the help we can give to change their world, their future, our future.
Mrs Maikibi Hadiza Dandobi, minister of Population, Promotion of Women and Child Protection.
In Niger, young girls have a tough life. Only one in four girls who are between 14 and 19 go to school, and almost one in two already have a child or are pregnant. More than 30% of teenage girls are married before their 15th birthday. The causes of these shocking statistics vary, and are often complex.
In Niger, Oxfam contributed to the day’s celebrations by mobilizing hundreds of school children to the Palais de Congrès in Niamey where Oxfam together with UNFPA, Unicef, and the Ministry of Population, Promotion of Women and Child Protection organized speeches, short plays and an Oxfam stand.
The day highlighted 4 basic rights for girls:
- Education
- Medical care
- Protection against abuse and exploitation
- Their own opinion on questions that concern their lives.
In Niger, Oxfam works with local partners to fight gender-based violence, like the campaign ‘WE CAN’ (‘Nous Pouvons’), which aims to change people’s attitudes and individual and collective behavior with regards to violence perpetrated against women and girls.
Oxfam in Niger aims to ensure that at least 50% of beneficiaries of our projects are women and that they are involved in the decision-making processes concerning humanitarian projects.
Related links
Join Oxfam's campaign: Health and Education for All
Oxfam's response to the food crisis in the Sahel region
Oxfam's work in Niger
Issues we work on: Gender justice
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