The Provincial Directorate in charge of Humanitarian Action in Tapoa handed over five bicycles to teenage girls who were married early on Saturday, August 17, 2024, to enable them to continue their studies.Girls and women around the world are subjected to practices that violate their fundamental rights and compromise their well-being.These practices take various forms: domestic violence, female genital mutilation, child marriage, etc.When it comes to child marriage, recent statistics reveal that one in three girls is forced into marriage before the age of 18 across the world.In Africa, Niger leads with 74.5%, followed by Mali (55%) and Burkina Faso (53%). These three countries have the highest prevalence rates.In order to reverse these trends and contribute to the economic and social progress of the country, several actions are being carried out by the government of Burkina Faso and its technical and financial partners, such as UNFPA, UNICEF and the Population Council. Hence the implementation of t he project "Ending early marriages in Burkina Faso".It is therefore with the aim of consolidating this project that the Ministry in charge of Humanitarian Action has implemented actions to support the schooling of adolescent girls who are victims of or at risk of child marriage.These actions are part of the Ministry's annual work plan, financially supported by UNICEF, in the provinces of Mouhoun, East, Center, Center-East, Center-North, Center-South, Central Plateau, Center-West and North.In 2024, the DGFE (General Directorate for Family and Children) requested and obtained 200 bicycles for the benefit of adolescent girls who are victims of or at risk of child marriage in these nine provinces.According to the Provincial Director of Solidarity of Tapoa, Lassane Sawadogo, these bicycles will contribute to the empowerment of beneficiaries by facilitating their mobility, which will undoubtedly increase their academic performance.This is how, after identifying the beneficiaries, five of them were chosen in Tapoa to leave with the five new bicycles.All five Tapoa beneficiaries are school-age victims, which will make it easier for them to get to school.The Provincial Director, Lassane Sawadogo, then invited the beneficiaries to make good use of it to enable the donor, which is the Ministry, to carry out other similar actions for the benefit of other adolescent girls.The beneficiaries, through their representative, praised and magnified the government's action, which they consider to be a bearer of hope, because it constitutes a strong signal of encouragement to happiness. They then addressed a special mention to the Provincial Directorate for the choice made on them.Source: Burkina Information Agency
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