In Guinea-Bissau, the World Population Day was observed in Buba and Bissau under the theme "Investing in girls to ensure the future." In Buba, activities led by the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports with the support of the UNFPA took place at the regional office UNIOGBIS. During the main ceremony, the best female students from all regions of the country gave their testimonies; five young entrepreneurs shared their experience and inspiring messages about the importance of investing in girls. The afternoon was dedicated to discussing issues related to the demographic dividend, promoting workshops on entrepreneurship and employment, education and sexual and reproductive health with more than 70 participants.

In the capital, Bissau, the United Nations celebrated World Population Day together with networks of women and young people, including all religious groups who have joined under the theme "Não bembu Guiné" (I carry Guinea) to show their work through a trade show and photo exhibition - also highlighting SDG 5 - and call for peace and stability so that the country can enter the development path. Women and youth Parliament had the opportunity to present and submit a manifesto to the organs of sovereignty and political leaders calling for stability and good governance.

The president of the National Children's Parliament, Nela Montija, 17 years old, said her dream is "to see the smile on the faces of all the children in Guinea-Bissau, see their rights be respected, see guaranteed quality education and access to quality health cares.”

Aissatu Forbs Djalo, 24 years old, President of the National Youth Network, Women Leaders (RENAGELF, Portuguese acronym) and vice president of the National Youth Council would like to see "a united youth where the participation of girls is equal to that of boys in both competence and number, end of forced and early marriage as well as enable them to prevent unwanted pregnancies, which prevent them from reaffirming themselves as women and as professionals.”

Kourtoum Nacro, Representative of the United Nations Population Fund in the country stressed that “if we invest in both girls and boys the society would be better.”

"Our approach is really to invest in young people and invest in gender balance. The major obstacle of Bissau-Guinean girls is forced marriage: they are forced to marry very early and leave school while their brothers continue, so we must invest in them, only then will we have the opportunity to be at the same level with men. The other major obstacle is female genital mutilation, the State should make greater efforts to end this harmful practice to women's health," concluded Nacro.