First Lady Fazna Ahmed has joined the special activities held to celebrate this year’s International Day of the Girl Child held in South Maalhosmadulu Atoll Goidhoo Island.
The day aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face while promoting empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights. The theme for this year is GirlForce: Unscripted and Unstoppable.
The activities, organized by Advocating the Rights of Children (ARC) in partnership with UNICEF Maldives, to mark the occasion included a ‘Girl Empowerment Workshop’ targeted for girls between the ages 16 and 20 where the Family Protection Authority held sessions on dealing with ‘Violence and Harassment’ and ‘Healthy relationships’.
Moreover, the First Lady also observed and participated in the sports events held for girls of all age groups which includes Zumba, surfing, yoga, and skating.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the ‘Resilient and Relentless; Her Story’ exhibition held on 11 October hosted by ARC, First Lady Fazna said that women had been downplayed by our society for generations and that women should uplift other women in promoting gender equality and breaking gender norms.
Stressing that every girl must be allowed to make their own choices while growing up, First Lady Fazna Ahmed encouraged girls to choose their careers based on their own free will and to do so with passion.