Published on February 06, 2022
FOUR ORGANISATIONS LEADING THE FIGHT TO END FGM/C
Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a form of violence against women and girls. It includes all procedures that involve the partial or total removal of the external genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. This harmful practice affects girls’ education by contributing to school dropouts, early pregnancies and early marriages. FGM/C also leads to infection of HIV and AIDS during the procedure.
Eliminating all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres by 2030, including FGM/C is a target under Global Goal 5. Yet, according to UNICEF, at least 200 million women and girls living in 30 countries around the world have undergone FGM/C. It’s easy to think the FGM/C is an issue that takes place away from where we live, but with girls around the world falling victim to it, we all must take action to end FGM/C.
FGM/C happens across all regions and it requires all of us to stand up for the rights of those going through this practice every single day – regardless of how ‘small’ our contribution might seem.
To mark International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, here are some amazing organisations and individuals that have made it their mission to get rid of this harmful practice once and for all.
SAHIYO
The mission of Sahiyo is to empower Asian and other communities to end Female Genital Cutting and create positive social change through dialogue, education, and collaboration based on community involvement. They aim to bring an end to the practice of FGC.
Follow Sahiyo to learn more.
INTEGRATE UK
Integrate UK is a youth-led charity that empowers young people to take an active and positive role in transforming the society they live in as well as supporting young people with their learning, ambitions and aspirations. As part of their peer-to-peer education framework – which includes films and music videos made by the young people at Integrate UK – they run workshops to encourage discussion around a range of challenging issues including FGM/C.
Follow Integrate UK to keep up to date with their work.
MEN END FGM
While women and girls are the ones that undergo FGM/C, it is simply not a women and girls’ only issue and it is essential for men and boys to be a part of the conversation. Men End FGM is a Kenyan organisation that rallies men and boys to unite against FGM/C, child marriage and other harmful practices. Established in 2019, the organisation leverages social and mainstream media as well as community dialogues to amplify messages that tackle harmful practises and advocates for the need to engage men and boys.
Would you like to help support Men End FGM? Click here to find out how.
SCARLET UDAAN
Scarlet Udaan is a youth-based global awareness organisation that aims to raise awareness on FGM/C. Through the organisation, they raise awareness on FGM/C and the impact it has on the lives of survivors belonging to different communities all around the world.
Follow them to support their work and keep up to date.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
This blog was written by Bethel Tadesse, Campaign Officer at Project Everyone.
