The 15th edition of the International Day of the Girl was celebrated in Benin on October 6, 2026. The ceremony brought together Minister of Family and Social Action, Véronique Tognifodé, Minister of Economy and Finance, Hugues Oscar Lokossou, and various partners. The event highlighted the importance of protecting girls, keeping them in school, empowering them, and providing access to social services. This is a shared priority that requires concerted action from all stakeholders responsible for protecting girls.
Despite progress, child marriage remains a significant challenge in Benin. According to the Observatory of Family and Social Action, 336 cases of child marriage were recorded between January 2025 and June 2026. To combat this practice, Benin has implemented a National Program to Fight Child Marriage. The goal is to reduce the rate of girls married before the age of 18 to 15% by 2029. Minister Lokossou believes it's possible to achieve a rate of 0%.
The National Program to Fight Child Marriage aims to bring together efforts from various stakeholders to protect girls. Minister Tognifodé emphasized that the program must be a unifying framework for efforts to ensure every Beninese girl can grow up, learn, make choices, and contribute to the nation's development. The program involves securing national resources, deepening dialogue with technical and financial partners, and orienting financing instruments towards social impact programs.
Ousmane Niang, representative of UNICEF in Benin, highlighted the importance of a coordinated, multisectoral approach to support girls. He emphasized that targeted, integrated, data-driven, and sustainable investments can make a significant difference in the lives of girls and their communities. UNICEF has committed to contributing to the implementation of the national program and strengthening resource mobilization efforts.
The celebration of the International Day of the Girl in Benin brought together various stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to protecting girls' rights. The event provided an opportunity for partners to discuss ways to support the government's efforts to empower girls and combat child marriage. The Beninese government has put in place various programs to support girls, including initiatives to improve access to education and social services.
Minister Lokossou outlined three key commitments to fight child marriage, including securing national resources, deepening dialogue with partners, and orienting financing instruments towards social impact programs. He emphasized that achieving a rate of 0% child marriage is possible with concerted action from all stakeholders. The government has called for increased investment in programs that support girls' education, health, and empowerment.
The International Day of the Girl celebration in Benin concluded with a call to action for all stakeholders to work together to protect girls' rights. The government, partners, and communities must collaborate to ensure girls have the opportunity to grow up, learn, and contribute to the nation's development. By working together, Benin can make progress towards achieving its goals and creating a brighter future for its girls.
Key points
- The Beninese government aims to reduce the rate of girls married before the age of 18 to 15% by 2029 through its National Program to Fight Child Marriage.
