The Girls Platform, under the Youth With A Vision (YWAV) Brikama branch, on Monday, organised a one day forum on 16-Day gender activism at the Brikama Red Cross hall.

The Youth With A Visions Girls Platform is a strategic component of the organisation which is geared towards gender empowerment through capacity building and the provision of information for young girls. The platform is mainly focused on adolescent youth reproductive health, teenage pregnancy and the maintenance of girls in schools.

Speaking at the forum, Aminata Hydara, coordinator of the platform said that the platform consists of twenty-five girls advocating on issues affecting girls. She called on girls to emphasise pragmatic efforts by taking part in national development.

Delivering a topic on the participation of girls in national development, Fatou M'baye, Western Region youth officer underscored the need for girls participation in national development noting that girls should not be left behind in decision making processes.

While advocating on child abuse and exploitation, Awa Jorbateh of the Child Protection Alliance noted that girls are unique and special and should recognise their own worth and identity so as to counter some of the disadvantages against them.

"Girls have been suffering from many forms of abuse and exploitation such as rape and other dubious acts. I therefore urge girls to be content and to listen to the advise of their parents," she advised.

Amadou Ceesay, of the African Center for Democracy and Human Rights (ACDHR) said that as future mothers, girls should be conscious of their deeds by avoiding anything that may put their lives into jeopardy. He said that the ACDHR is working with the African Commission on the issues of the human rights.

Mr Ceesay reiterated that African girls are essential in the well-being of their families as they form the bulk of the labour force.

It could be recalled that, the platform was established in 2005.