DRC Girls Forum
Exchange • Connect • Empower
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From 29 November to 1 December 2022, a hundred young girls from all over the Democratic Republic of Congo and Africa, will gather in Kinshasa for the DRC Girls Forum. For three days, they will discuss their priorities and expectations while designing solutions around the challenges they face and the opportunities available to them.
Organized by the Ministry of Gender, Family and Children in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, New Citizenship and Social Cohesion, the Ministry of Social Affairs and UNICEF, the DRC Girls Forum aims at encouraging girls to become agents of change in society. This is a key step to galvanizing investments in girls while promoting an environment where girls can connect with their peers and women with similar career profiles, interests, and diversified backgrounds.
At the end of the three days, young girls should be inspired and equipped to speak out about their needs, interests, and ambitions and claim their rights within their respective communities across the country.
Q&A
Why a forum dedicated to girls?
While girls between the ages of 10 and 24 represent 16 percent of the Congolese population, they face many challenges and have often become marginalized in the society. Yet if supported through adolescence, girls have the potential to change their communities and society, both as empowered girls and as workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, heads of households, and tomorrow's political leaders.
Who will attend the DRC Girls Forum?
The DRC Girls Forum will bring together around 100 young girls aged 13 to 24 from the DRC and Africa, Government and local authorities, UNICEF, and other United Nations agencies as well as girls and youth organizations, technical and financial partners, private sector agencies as well as inspiring women and men.
How to participate as a young Congolese girl?
In September 2022, UNICEF launched a call for registration through social networks to select 75 young girls U-Reporters, Children or Young Reporters, and members of Children's Committees. It is no longer possible to register to participate in the DRC Girls Forum but we will give everyone the opportunity to express themselves.
What is the pursued objective?
The ultimate goal is that at the end of the three-day event, the 100 girls will represent a critical mass for change and return inspired to their communities to claim their rights.
Why exchange, connect, and empower?
When young girls are supported through their adolescence, they have the potential to change their community and society. The DRC Girls Forum aims to inspire young girls and equip them to realize their potential and participate fully in the political, economic, and social life of their country.
What will be the key moments not to be missed?
On the first day of the DRC Girls Forum, UNICEF will screen Vaillante, a fictional film that explores child marriage and youth engagement. UNICEF will also launch U-Report Girls to close the Forum, a platform encouraging girls aged 13 to 24 to become agents of change in society.
