Moni Begum, a 16-year-old girl, returned to Dhaka on September 30 after attending United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) where she advocated to stop child marriage and improving access to health care for every mother and child.
At the UNGA, Moni advocated for ending child marriage with her slogan #LetHerGrow. “Instead of getting married in their teens, girls should be encouraged to grow and educate themselves because they have immense potential in the future of Bangladesh.”
“They need the support of the society and their families to grow with equal opportunity. If we (girls) can grow, we can do better but for that we need the commitment and accountability from world leaders and the community,” said Moni at the assembly in front of the delegates from across the globe.
“Moni voiced millions of children of Bangladesh at the UNGA. She was bold, enthusiastic and outspoken to communicate the aspirations of her peers to the leaders of the global community.” Dr Ishtiaq Mannan, Health, Nutrition and HIV/AIDS, Director of Save the Children, told a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) here.
Adviser of Advocacy, Health, Nutrition and HIV/AIDS of Save the Children Belal Uddin, among others, was present at the press conference. Moni Begum is a 10th grader in Sultanpur Girls’ High School, lives in Kulaura, Sylhet. She was the first Bangladeshi child advocate for ending child marriage and improving access to healthcare at the UNGA, which she attended in New York this September. Based on a rigorous assessment process, she was selected to represent Bangladesh at UNGA from over a pool of hundred beneficiaries of a project implemented by Save the Children in partnership with Dhaka Ahsania Mission and Bangladesh Pediatric Association.
