In honour of the International Day of the Girl Child, Save the Children in Bangladesh hosted an event on Wednesday at a hotel in Dhaka.
This year’s theme, “Girls’ Vision for the Future,” underscored the urgent need for action driven by the voices and aspirations of girls worldwide.
The event gathered approximately 40 girls and boys, alongside panellists from development organisations, the corporate sector, academia, donors, and the government.
A key highlight was a “Girl Talk” session, where five girls discussed issues hindering girls' futures, such as climate change, sexual harassment, child labour, waste management, and air pollution. They also participated in an open dialogue with the distinguished panellists.
This year's celebration centred on empowering young climate activists advocating for children’s rights across the nation.
Save the Children called upon all stakeholders to listen to girls’ voices and take decisive action to ensure their rights to education, safety, and a future free from the threat of child marriage.
Zawata Alam, a member of Youth4NDCs, remarked, “Women and girls are severely affected by the consequences of disasters and natural calamities. Reusing waste and implementing adaptation and mitigation strategies can help reduce the impacts of climate change. Girls of my generation should be educated about climate change so that we can understand the reality, raise our voices, and play a significant role in alleviating the consequences of climate change.”
Tabassum Rahman Nabia, a member of the National Children’s Task Force (NCTF), stated, “Child labour is still prevalent in our country. Laws and policies are not being effectively enforced. I urge our government to address these issues. We do not want any more children to suffer due to child labour.”
Mushfiqua Zaman Satiar, Senior Policy Advisor for Gender and Civil Society at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, said, “Half of the world’s population comprises girls and women. No progress will be effective without their empowerment. On behalf of the Netherlands Embassy, we aspire for girls to receive an education, become financially empowered, and make informed decisions about their own lives.”
Dilruba Haider, Programme Specialist for Climate Change, DRR, and Humanitarian Action at UN Women, commented, “Girls today must actively participate in reshaping the old narrative about themselves. They should not rely on men for protection; rather, they must empower themselves through education and financial independence, as that is where true empowerment lies.”
Reefat Bin Sattar, Deputy Country Director of Save the Children in Bangladesh, stated, “Today’s event connected Save the Children in Bangladesh’s flagship campaign, ‘Girl Talk,’ with this year’s theme for the International Day of the Girl Child, ‘Her Vision for the Future.’ Girl Talk aims to amplify the voices of young girls regarding the challenges they face and to support them in envisioning solutions, accessing essential services, realising their rights, and unlocking their potential.”