The "Next Time with a Girl" campaign culminated in an event held on November 22, 2023, marking a significant historic moment in the joint efforts of UNFPA, FiBank, and the Mother and Child Hospital Foundation to stop selective abortion in Albania, as a harmful practice of gender-based violence.
What began as an impressive photo exhibition by Kristina Culaj turned into a movement embracing a critical phenomenon in our society - the absence of girls who were never given the chance to live. Besides real photos of girls, the exhibition also featured silhouettes and stories of missing girls - symbolizing all Albanian girls who were not born due to selective abortion.
Traveling across Albania, the exhibition spread important and poignant messages in Kukës, Fier, and Durrës, resonating in broad communities.
At the event finale, coordinated by RedCloud and led by activist and influential figure in social and traditional media, a strong supporter of the cause, Fatma Haxhialiau, the young girls presented in the photos stood alongside their mothers and families, once again delivering empowering messages for girls and women. Project partners and media members gathered, emphasizing the spirit of collaboration that fueled this campaign.
Adding a musical touch to the evening, the youth choir of the Artistic High School and the children's choir mesmerized the audience with their performance, highlighting the importance of creating a future where every child is valued and celebrated.
Ms. Manuela Bello, Director of the UNFPA Office in Albania, delivered a speech shedding light on the steps taken to address the issue of selective abortion and harmful practices of gender-based violence. She illustrated how "Next Time with a Girl" has made a positive contribution, thanks to the unity of voices and allies in this movement.
The most touching moment of the night came when one of the young girls presented in the photographs delivered an emotional speech, reinforcing the heartfelt message of the campaign.
"Next Time with a Girl" did not just come as a campaign but as a testament to perseverance, advocacy, and commitment to improving social inequalities in our country, which begin even before birth, as well as the need for empowerment, gender equality, and the participation of boys and men in the fight against gender-based violence.
