West and Central Africa / Conakry / Guinea - 20 October 2016: President Alpha Condé joined the UNFPA Regional Director Mabingue Ngom to undertake the regional high-level launch of the SWOP in the presence of over 50 young girls, 10 Ministers of Youth from across WCA, several Guinean Ministers, several youth leaders and journalists, the Secretary-General of the Mano River Union, the Resident Coordinator and several heads of mission from across the UN system and development partners.

The launch program included an affirmation to #PutYoungPeopleFirst from young girls, facilitation from the Guinean Minister of Youth, an exposé on the content of the SWOP from the Ministry of Plan and International Cooperation, and interventions from the UN Resident Coordinator, the Regional Director and the President of Guinea.

UNFPA’s State of World Population 2016 report shows how 10-year-old girls—60 million in number worldwide—are the face of our future. They are the starting point for achieving the globally agreed 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and they can no longer be left behind if we are to realize the world and Africa we want. It is time to act to realize their human rights and unleash their potential.