Liokelo, 13 years delivers an outcome Statement on behalf of Girl Parliamentarians on Effective Participation in Decision-Making

Outcome Statement of Girl Parliamentarians Training on Effective Participation in Decision-Making

Delivered at: "The Role of Parliamentarians for the Protection and Promotion of Child Rights Through Laws and Policies" Panel at the Child Rights Symposium commemorating the 35th Anniversary of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child during the 46th Ordinary Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child on 29 November 2025in Maseru, Kingdom of Lesotho

Honourable Representatives of Member States

Distinguished Members of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child,

Excellencies and Esteemed Guests,

First we would like to congratulate the Committee on its 35th Anniversary of the African Children’s Charter, and the successful Convention of the 46th Ordinary Session.

We, the girl parliamentarians from Botswana, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Lesotho, Mauritania, and Uganda, representing all five regions of Africa, convened on 25 November 2025 for a training on effective participation of girl parliamentarians in decision making, here, at Manthabiseng Convention Centre. We are here to share what we learned and what we need from you.

We are leaders in our local children's parliaments. We work hard to speak up for children's rights in our communities and countries. We talk with leaders, raise awareness about problems children face, and make sure adults hear what children have to say about our own lives. We are grateful for all the opportunities to meet with our leaders, like today.

We have had some successes, and we want to share them to show you that when you give us real opportunities, we can create real change. But we also face big challenges that stop us from doing our best work. We are not here to complain. We are here to ask you to help remove the barriers that hold us back.

Education should be for everyone, but many children, especially girls, cannot go to school or stay in school. Girls with disabilities face double discrimination and are often left out completely. When girls get pregnant, schools send them away and refuse to let them come back, ending their education and their dreams. Many of us have to stay home to take care of our brothers and sisters or do housework instead of going to school. And when girls get their periods, many schools don't have clean toilets, pads, or understanding teachers, so we miss school every month or even drop out. We therefore ask for quality education for all children, no exceptions.

Girls across Africa face terrible violence. Sexual abuse hurts us in ways that last forever. Traffickers steal us from our families. Forced marriage takes away our childhood. These are not just bad things that happen sometimes. These problems happen because the systems that should protect us are not enough. We need strong laws that actually work and help for girls who have been hurt.

Young mothers need healthcare, but when we go to clinics and hospitals, people treat us badly. They judge us instead of helping us. There are not enough health centres that understand what young mothers need. We need sexual and reproductive health information so we can protect ourselves. We are asking for healthcare that treats all children, including young mothers, with respect and kindness.

When girls get in trouble with the law, the justice system does not understand us. Prisons for young people are not designed for girls' needs. Sometimes girls are punished harshly even when they were defending themselves from sexual assault. We need justice systems that understand why girls end up in trouble, that help us heal instead of punishing us more, and that protect us instead of hurting us.

We face three big problems that make it hard for us to do our jobs as child parliamentarians. Many national parliaments refuse to recognize children's parliaments as real. When they do invite us, it's often just for photos. They want us there so they can say they listen to children, but they don't actually listen to what we say. We want to be real partners, not just decoration.

Adults ask us what we think, and then they do nothing with our ideas. That's not real participation. Real participation means that when we share our recommendations, adults actually use them to change policies and laws. When you ignore what we say, you are telling us that our voices don't matter.

Children's parliaments need money to work properly. We need money for meetings, training, communication, travel to meet with leaders, and basic support. Without funding from governments, we cannot be effective. If you really believe in our participation, you need to pay for it.

We are not here asking for favours. We are here claiming our rights. We ask Parliaments to do the following,

Make children's parliaments official by putting them in your national laws. Give us our own budget so we can function properly. Create clear ways for us to meet with you regularly, not just once a year for a photo. Make rules that say you have to respond to our recommendations within a certain time, so we know you heard us and what you plan to do.

Pass laws that let all children go to school, including pregnant girls, young mothers, and children with disabilities. Make stronger laws against sexual abuse, trafficking, and exploitation of girls. Fix the justice system so it understands girls and focuses on helping us, not just punishing us. Pass laws that give girls access to pads and clean bathrooms in schools. Create child-friendly health centres and train health workers to treat young mothers with respect.

Treat children's participation as our right, not as something nice you do, and create real spaces where we can influence decisions. Train yourselves and other government officials to understand child rights and how to work with us properly. Collect information about children that shows differences by age, sex, and disability so you can make better policies.

We promise to keep fighting for children's rights in our countries. We will work with you constructively. We will support other children to become leaders like us. We will hold you accountable to your promises. We will share what we learn so others can make better policies. We are serious about our work, and we expect you to be serious too.

We are not the leaders of tomorrow. We are leaders right now, today. Our age does not make our experiences less real or our demands less urgent. The problems we talked about are not just ideas for discussion. They are what we live with every day. They decide whether we get to thrive or get left behind.

You have the power to change laws, give money to the right programmes, and fix broken systems. Please use that power not just to talk about children's rights, but to actually protect and promote them. The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child says we have the right to participate. We are here to claim that right and to be heard.

We have spoken. Now we are waiting for you to act.

Thank you.

Signed on behalf of the Girl Parliamentarians from Botswana, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Lesotho, Mauritania, and Uganda

Date: 25 November 2025
Location: Maseru, Kingdom of Lesotho