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Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements To End Female Genital Mutilation

A joint statement by UNFPA, UNICEF, and WHO emphasizes the urgent need to strengthen alliances and build movements to end female genital mutilation (FGM), which affects over 230 million girls and women globally. Despite progress in some countries, the statement warns that the current pace of change is insufficient to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of eliminating FGM by 2030. The organizations call for greater accountability, investment in proven interventions, and community engagement to protect girls and ensure their rights.

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9 views4 pages

Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements To End Female Genital Mutilation

A joint statement by UNFPA, UNICEF, and WHO emphasizes the urgent need to strengthen alliances and build movements to end female genital mutilation (FGM), which affects over 230 million girls and women globally. Despite progress in some countries, the statement warns that the current pace of change is insufficient to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of eliminating FGM by 2030. The organizations call for greater accountability, investment in proven interventions, and community engagement to protect girls and ensure their rights.

Uploaded by

Rafael
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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17/02/25, 18:24 Strengthening alliances and building movements to end female genital mutilation

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Strengthening alliances and


building movements to end
female genital mutilation
Joint statement by UNFPA Executive
Director Dr Natalia Kanem, UNICEF
Executive Director Catherine Russell and
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus
6 February 2025 | Joint News Release | New York and Geneva | Reading time: 3 min (871 words)

‫العربية‬ 中文 Français Русский Español

Female genital mutilation is a violation of human rights that inflicts deep and lifelong
physical, emotional and psychological scars on girls and women. This harmful practice
affects more than 230 million girls and women today. An estimated 27 million more girls
could endure this violation of their rights and dignity by 2030 if we do not take action now.

Today, on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, and in
response to the theme "Stepping up the pace: Strengthening alliances and building
movements to end female genital mutilation", UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO reaffirm our

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17/02/25, 18:24 Strengthening alliances and building movements to end female genital mutilation

commitment to work together with countries and communities to end this harmful practice
– once and for all.

There is hope. Many countries have seen a decline in the prevalence of female genital
mutilation. We are witnessing progress in countries like Kenya and Uganda, where
collaborative action and community-led initiatives are proving that by strengthening
alliances and building movements, we can accelerate change.

Since the launch of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female
Genital Mutilation in 2008, and in collaboration with WHO, close to 7 million girls and
women access prevention and protection services. Additionally, 48 million people have
made public declarations to abandon the practice, and 220 million individuals were reached
by mass media messaging on the issue. In the last two years, close to 12 000 grassroots
organizations and 112 000 community and frontline workers galvanized to effect change at
this critical juncture.

Yet the fragility of progress made has also become starkly evident. In the Gambia, for
example, attempts to repeal the ban on female genital mutilation persist, even after an
initial proposal to do so was rejected by its parliament last year. Such efforts could gravely
undermine the rights, health and dignity of future generations of girls and women,
jeopardizing the tireless work over decades to change attitudes and mobilize communities.

Of the 31 countries in which data on prevalence are collected nationally, only seven
countries are on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of ending female genital
mutilation by or before 2030. The current rate of progress must accelerate urgently to meet
this target.

This requires strengthened alliances among leaders, grassroots organizations and across
sectors spanning health, education and social protection – as well as sustained advocacy
and expanded social movements with girls and survivors at the centre.

It demands greater accountability at all levels to ensure commitments to human rights are
upheld and policies and strategies are implemented to protect girls at risk and provide
care, including justice, for survivors. It also requires increased investment in scaling up
proven interventions. We are indebted to generous donors and partners who are
supporting this life-changing work and call on others to join them.

We all have a role to play to ensure that every girl is protected and can live free from harm.
Let’s step up the pace and act with urgency. The time to end female genital mutilation is
now.

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Notes to Editors

About the UNFPA–UNICEF Joint Programme


The UNFPA–UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation:
Delivering the Global Promise works to eliminate female genital mutilation through
interventions in 17 countries where the practice is prevalent. The programme creates
opportunities for girls and women to realize their rights in health, education, income and
equality to help end the power imbalances that underpin this harmful practice.

For further information, please contact:


Eddie Wright, UNFPA New York, Tel: +1 917 831 2974 [email protected]
Sara Alhattab | UNICEF New York | +1 917-957-6536 | [email protected]
Laura Keenan | WHO, Geneva | [email protected] and [email protected]

About UNFPA
UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. UNFPA's mission is to
deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young
person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA calls for the realization of reproductive rights for all
and supports access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services, including
voluntary family planning, quality maternal health care and comprehensive sexuality
education.

For more information about UNFPA and its work visit: www.unfpa.org
Follow UNFPA on X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and YouTube

About UNICEF
UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child,
everywhere, especially the most disadvantaged children and in the toughest places to
reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help
children survive, thrive, and fulfil their potential.

For more information about UNICEF and its work visit:


Follow UNICEF on X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and YouTube

About WHO

Dedicated to the well-being of all people and guided by science, the World Health
Organization leads and champions global efforts to give everyone, everywhere an equal
chance at a safe and healthy life. We are the UN agency for health that connects nations,
partners and people on the front lines in 150+ locations – leading the world’s response to
health emergencies, preventing disease, addressing the root causes of health issues and
expanding access to medicines and health care. Our mission is to promote health, keep the
world safe and serve the vulnerable.

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For more information about WHO and its work visit: www.who.int

Follow WHO on X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube

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