Inaugural Speech By Michaella Hawa Jah – Speaker of Girls’ Parliament on March 8 2025; with the theme “Girls Too Challenge”: Abolish Teenage Pregnancy and Create Safe Spaces for Girls

Honourable dignitaries, respected elders, partners in development, distinguished guests, and fellow honourable members of the Girls’ Parliament. On behalf of all the girls of our beloved district, I bring you honourable greetings from the Girls Parliament of Pujehun District. I wish you Happy International Women’s Day. Watch the full speech: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1G58TRy3ML/

I’m Michaella Hawa Jah, Honourable the Speaker of the Girls’ Parliament in Pujehun district. It is with great pride, humility, and honour that I stand before you today to commemorate the International Women’s Day. This is a day where we come together to reflect on the remarkable achievements of women and girls around the world, and more importantly, to recognize the continuing struggle for gender equality. I am incredibly proud to represent the voice of the girls of Pujehun district, and I extend my deepest gratitude to each one of you for making this day a remarkable moment in the history of our generation as girls.

International Women’s Day is not just a celebration; it is a call to action. A call for the empowerment of women and girls everywhere, a call for equality, justice, and dignity. In our district, in Sierra Leone, and across the globe, women and girls play pivotal roles in society, in families, and in communities. Yet, despite their immense contributions, we must recognize that the challenges faced by women and girls are still many and still daunting.

Today, as we gather here to celebrate this special day, I urge all of us to reflect on the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day: “Gender Equality for a Sustainable Tomorrow.” This theme resonates deeply with the reality that the future of our district, our nation, and our world depends on empowering women and girls to reach their full potential. A sustainable future can only be achieved if we ensure that girls have equal opportunities to succeed in education, to have a voice in decision-making, and to live free from violence, discrimination, and poverty.

Key Points on Barriers to Teenage Pregnancy and Child Marriage from the Speech by Michaella Hawa Jah – Speaker, Girls’ Parliament

As a Honourable Speaker of the Girls’ Parliament, I am fully aware of the barriers that we face daily. Many girls in our district still face significant challenges when it comes to accessing quality education and justice system. Too many girls are forced to leave school due to early marriage, teenage pregnancy, sexual and gender based violence, or the lack of adequate resources. But, I stand here today to remind you that we are not defined by our challenges.

We are defined by our strength, our resilience, and our determination to rise above them. Special gratitude to the U Team SL formerly known as United Team of Pujehun District commonly known as the UN -TEAM Pujehun District, for establishing and launching the Girls Parliament with the view to builds on the success of the Young Women Leading Change Innovation Challenge; with support from the United Nations Population Fund UNFPA Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sierra Leone (MoYA).

I am proud to say that, in recent years, we have seen progress. More girls in Pujehun district are going to school, more girls are becoming active participants in community affairs, and more girls are beginning to believe in their ability to lead and make a difference’. Michaella Hawa Jah – Hon. Speaker of the Girls’ Parliament.

We underscore the importance of the Girls Parliament as a holistic approach to help abolish teenage pregnancy and end child marriage in Pujehun district, thereby actualizing the objectives of the Girls Parliament, and conducting campaigns to popularize the National Strategy for the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy and Ending Child Marriage.

I am proud to say that, in recent years, we have seen progress. More girls in Pujehun district are going to school, more girls are becoming active participants in community affairs, and more girls are beginning to believe in their ability to lead and make a difference. However, there is still much work to be done. It is crucial that we continue to push for policies and practices that prioritize the education and health of girls. We must advocate for laws that protect girls from harmful practices and ensure that they have equal access to opportunities.

Key Responsibility and Function of the Girls’ Parliament in the Speech of the Honourable Speaker of the Girls’ Parliament – Michaleea Hawa Jah

Being the Honourable Speaker of the Girls Parliament, I am quite aware of the responsibility ahead. The Girls Parliament aims to create safe spaces and empower adolescent girls, by ensuring equal opportunities for all in the district. With the theme “Girls Too Challenge”: Abolish Teenage Pregnancy and Create Safe Spaces for Girls.

The Girls Parliament will also create a strong window of opportunity where girls are selected from all the fourteen chiefdoms of Pujehun district, to serve as honourable members of parliament in the Girls Parliament, advocating for issues affecting adolescent girls, embarking on public education and campaign, to help abolish teenage pregnancy and end child marriage; as well as to foster female leadership and career pathways for girls in Pujehun district.

Key Recommendations from the Speech of the Honourable Speaker of the Girls’ Parliament – Michaleea Hawa Jah

Distinguished guests, by investing in the Girls Parliament and making the National Strategy for the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy and Ending Child Marriage understandable to the general public, will help to empower girls and individuals to navigate complex legal frameworks, protect their rights, and participate in child-related decisions. This, in turn, fosters sufficient implementation and enforcement of laws, reducing the potential for teenage pregnancy and child marriage.

Furthermore, Girls Parliament, public education and awareness of child laws can stimulate economic activity by facilitating child protections, attracting investment in human capital development, and promoting secure child rights agenda. Ladies and gentlemen, as we gathered here to launch the Girls Parliament in Pujehun district. It is important to remind you all that we need sustainability in the entire process. In my capacity as the Honourable Speaker of the Girls Parliament, I stand here to give our collective commitment as girls that we will continue to meet and advocate for greater investment in education; particularly for girls in rural areas like ours, where the barriers to education are still significant. We strongly believe when a girl is educated, she is empowered to make decisions that will not only transform her own life but also positively impact the lives of those around her.

On this honourable note therefore, I call on the contribution and support from all stakeholders, UNFPA, Ministry of Youth Affairs, United Team of Pujehun District, development partners, ministries, departments and agencies, and the Government of Sierra Leone, to collectively put together adequate plan, that will sustain the operation of the Girls Parliament as a safe space for all girls in the district. The Girls Parliament will also ensure that our girls grow up in an environment that is safe, that supports their emotional and mental well-being, and that encourages them to be bold and fearless in pursuing their dreams. Too often, girls in our district are subjected to gender-based violence, child marriages, other sexual offenses, and harmful cultural practices that undermine their future. It is essential that we work together parents, teachers, community leaders, donor partners and policymakers to protect girls from these threats and provide them with the tools they need to thrive.

Today, I ask each one of you to reflect on what you can do to support girls in your community. Whether it is advocating for girls’ education, creating safe spaces for girls, speaking out against gender-based violence, or simply listening to and empowering the girls in your life, every action counts. We must stand together, united in our belief that a society that empowers women and girls is a society that is stronger, healthier, and more prosperous.

Closing Remarks from the Speech of the Honourable Speaker of the Girls’ Parliament – Michaleea Hawa Jah

In closing, I want to express my deepest appreciation to all the girls and women who have come before us. Their courage, strength, and determination have paved the way for us to be here today. Let us honour them by continuing the work they began and striving for a world where every girl can live a life free from teenage pregnancy, free from child marriage, free from fear, free from discrimination, and free to pursue her dreams.

To the girls of Pujehun, I say to you today: You are powerful, you are valuable, and you are the future. Never let anyone tell you otherwise. Let us continue to fight, to raise our voices, and to create a world where girls and women have equal opportunities and rights. Take advantage of the Girls Parliament and build on your future, the positive future we want for all girls.

Thank you, and Happy International Women’s Day to all! Once more, I’m Michaella Hawa Jah. Honourable Speaker of the Girls Parliament.

Michaella Hawa Jah – Speaker of the Girls’ Parliament and Team will embark on GIRLS TO GIRLS SCHOOL TOUR in Pujehun district; powered by the UN -TEAM Pujehun, UNFPA Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sierra Leone. The Girls To Girls School Tour is an initiative with the view to sustain the Young Women Leading Change Innovation Challenge; thereby enhancing young girls and young women to advocate and take smart action to end child marriage and reduce teenage pregnancy in Pujehun district.