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ADNews-Monrovia,Liberia:While the Regional Girls’ Summit in Dakar, Senegal, was primarily a platform for adolescent girls to chart their own future, it also highlighted a crucial, often overlooked, element in the fight for gender equality, the pivotal role of boys as allies. Seventeen-year-old Sampson W. Tweh from Liberia emerged from the summit with a powerful message that could transform how Liberian society approaches girls’ rights: boys are not just “supporters” but active “allies.”
By Rita Jlogbe Contributing Writer
The summit, held on October 10-11, gathered young leaders from 24 West and Central African countries, and Sampson was among the Liberian delegation, which included adolescent girls and Deputy Minister Laura Golakeh. His personal transformation in understanding gender roles was a poignant moment, echoing the summit’s emphasis on inclusive dialogue. “The Summit made me understand that we boys are not supporters of girls but allies,” Sampson disclosed. “It is one key message I am taking back home to share with my colleagues to change our mindset of how we see our female counterpart.” This shift from “supporter” to “ally” is more than just semantics; it implies shared responsibility, active participation, and a recognition of girls’ agency.
The Dakar Declaration itself, the culmination of the summit’s work, explicitly called on girls to “Support our male peers so that they gradually become models of positive and responsible masculinity.” Sampson Tweh’s revelation is a direct response to this call, demonstrating the summit’s success in fostering such crucial intergenerational and inter-gender dialogue.
Andrew Brooks, UNICEF Liberia Country Representative, has long recognized the strength and resilience of Liberian girls, noting their impactful contributions during the civil war and the Ebola crisis. He emphasized that girls “can do even better when given the right support.” However, true progress, as Sampson’s message highlights, also depends on boys understanding their role in dismantling barriers.
The summit’s opening remarks from Bernard Millimouno, another male teenager committed to women’s causes, reinforced this “awareness must be spread in all countries of the world, because it is men who are responsible for violence against girls.” This direct acknowledgment underlines why engaging boys and redefining masculinity is essential for creating safer, more equitable societies.
Liberia, like many nations in the region, faces significant challenges related to gender-based violence (GBV) and discriminatory social norms. The “Dakar Declaration” explicitly condemned GBV and called for “strict laws and clear sanctions against perpetrators.” This is an area where boys, as allies, can play a transformative role, challenging harmful norms within their peer groups and communities.
The Liberian government, represented by Deputy Minister Laura Golakeh, now has a unique opportunity to build on the momentum generated by young leaders like Sampson. Integrating the message of male allyship into national programs can foster environments where girls feel respected, safe, and empowered. The Dakar Declaration is not just a list of demands for governments; it’s a commitment from girls themselves to “raise our voices,” “use technology responsibly,” and “create support and mentoring networks.”
When boys like Sampson stand as allies, these commitments become even more powerful, fostering a collective movement for change. As Sampson Tweh returns to Liberia, armed with a new understanding and a vital message, he becomes an ambassador for a future where gender equality is not just a dream, but a shared responsibility, actively championed by both girls and boys. The modification from “supporters” to “allies” could be the key to unlocking true and lasting change for every girl in Liberia.
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