On 6 February 2023, we joined the global community in marking the 12th anniversary of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. This day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 to raise awareness and mobilize action to end this harmful practice by 2030, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.
FGM is a form of violence against women and girls that involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It can cause severe physical and psychological consequences, such as bleeding, infections, infertility, trauma, and even death. FGM violates the human rights and dignity of women and girls and denies them their right to health, education, and autonomy.
The theme of this year’s commemoration was “Partnership with Men and Boys to Transform Social and Gender Norms to End Female Genital Mutilation”. We believe that men and boys have a crucial role to play in changing the attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate FGM in our societies. They can be allies and advocates for women and girls, and challenge the myths and stereotypes that justify FGM. They can also support the survivors of FGM, and promote their access to health care, education, and justice.
That is why we participated in a round table discussion organized by UNFPA Cameroon, together with the Ministry of Women Empowerment and the Family, the Ministry of Public Health, and other civil society organizations. We shared our experiences and best practices on how to engage men and boys in ending FGM in our communities and institutions. We also discussed the challenges and opportunities that we face in this endeavor, and how we can overcome them through collaboration and coordination.
We are grateful to UNFPA Cameroon for facilitating this dialogue and to all the participants for their valuable contributions. We are committed to continuing our work to end FGM in Africa, and to empower women and girls to realize their full potential. We invite you to join us in this mission and to support our efforts by donating, volunteering, or spreading the word about our cause. Together, we can make a difference for millions of women and girls who deserve a life free from violence and discrimination.