COTONOU, March 12 (Xinhua) -- A photo exhibition titled "Rights. Girls. Resilience" was launched Wednesday in Natitingou City in the Atacora Department of northwestern Benin.
The images were captured by three female photographers, highlighting the daily lives of adolescent girls facing challenges such as gender-based violence, limited access to education, child protection issues, and social vulnerability.
"More than just a photo exhibition, 'Rights. Girls. Resilience' aims to serve as a space for dialogue and awareness. It invites the public to take a closer and more empathetic look at these young girls, whose stories remind us that behind the statistics lie lives, dreams, and struggles," said a statement from the Cotonou office of the United Nations Children's Fund.
The government of Benin has undertaken several initiatives to strengthen the protection of girls, including free schooling for children aged six to 12, efforts to combat child marriage, the implementation of the National Integrated School Feeding Program, reforms to social promotion mechanisms, and the development of the National Child Protection Policy for 2026-2035.
Nevertheless, gender inequalities continue to hinder girls' development and education. According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS Benin) 2021-2022, more than 400,000 girls remain out of school, and many drop out during adolescence, especially at the end of primary school or the beginning of secondary school.
Only one in five girls completes primary education, while fewer than one in three finish the first cycle of secondary school. In addition, 27.5 percent of girls are married before the age of 18, a figure that rises to 45 percent in northern Benin.
Tate Ouindeyama, mayor of Natitingou, said the exhibition pays tribute to the strength, determination, and aspirations of girls in Benin.
"I admire the resilience of these brave girls whose stories inspire us to continue advocacy and strengthen actions aimed at protecting them," he said.
Speaking on behalf of the girls featured in the exhibition, Kadidja Oumarou said the photos reflect stories of courage.
"There are girls who walk miles under the scorching sun to reach their schools. There are girls who study on an empty stomach because, for them, a diploma matters more than a meal. There are girls who, despite disability or the loss of parents, refuse to give up," she said, calling for continued efforts to protect girls, "because every protected girl represents another opportunity for Atacora and Benin." ■