It’s Not Time to Retreat- Millions of Girls & Women are still at Risk of Female Genital Mutilation in East Africa

On 6 February, World Vision International, East Africa Region joins the World to mark International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The theme for this year “Towards 2030: no end to female genital mutilation without sustained commitment and investment” is timely.  The current funding crisis threatens to reverse the decades of gains registered through various efforts to end FGM. The theme is challenging governments, civil society, private sector, UN agencies and donors to invest more and scale up actions to end this gross human rights violation.

FGM is one of the many forms of harmful traditional practices that not only undermines the autonomy of girls and women but also severely affects their wellbeing. 

Approximately 42 million girls and women in Eastern and Southern Africa have undergone female genital mutilation comprising nearly one fifth of the global statistics, according to a UNICEF Profile of FGM in Eastern and Southern Africa. Beyond these numbers are girls and women battling physical and psychological effects with prospects undermined.

In 2015 United Nation's member states committed to eliminating all harmful practices including FGM by 2030.The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child ratified by all 8 East African Community (EAC) countries (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Burundi, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Rwanda, Federal Republic of Somalia, Republic of South Sudan, Republic of Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania) spells out the obligations relevant to the protection of children against FGM under Article 19.  The adoption of the East Africa Community Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Bill 2016 was a beacon of hope as it criminalized FGM and made provisions for prevention and response to FGM.

FGM requires an integrated approach if we are to sustainably address this practice. World Vision Kenya’s Big Dream to End Child Marriage programme uses holistic, community-based approaches targeting multiple drivers of FGM and child marriage. Its initiatives span from education, economic empowerment, changing social norms, systems strengthening, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene all geared towards driving positive change.  The project is being implemented across seven counties in Kenya namely, West Pokot, Baringo, Turkana, Narok, Samburu, Marsabit and Migori.

One of its most successful interventions has been Community Change conversations - intergenerational dialogues aimed at helping communities identify and address the root causes of harmful practices like FGM, child marriage and teenage pregnancy.

Gradually, through engagement and education, communities are embracing change and agreeing to abandon damaging cultural norms.  Nteyie Lemerdete, a participant, shared: "Through the Community-Change conversations, we learned about the dangers of FGM. I decided to take my children who were herding livestock to school. With the knowledge I have, I will not let my daughter go through FGM. I want her to be educated so that she becomes a respectable person in society."

The programme works holistically across generations and genders. Fathers and sons have become champions and are protecting girls from being cut.

Nteyie Lemerdete, a Participant who decided to take her daughter to school after undergoing the Community Change model

A UNFPA-UNICEF joint programme on FGM Annual Report 2024 revealed that Ethiopia and Kenya had made the strongest progress with FGM rates falling significantly by 30% over the past 30 years.

According to UNICEF, the number of girls subjected to FGM has doubled due to increased population growth.  The situation is likely to worsen with the multiple crisis of climate change, economic hardships, conflicts and funding cuts.  

We can do more to end FGM.  The UN estimates that for every $1 invested to end FGM, there is a return of 10 dollars.  As we commemorate this day we urge government, UN Agencies including international organisations to;

• Mobilise additional, comprehensive funding to address urgent and growing needs in social protection, education, health and economic empowerment to end diverse forms of violence against children and women.
• Strengthen and/ or establish national child-sensitive and gender transformative social protection systems, ensuring adequate budgetary allocations and accountability mechanisms to safeguard vulnerable girls and women.
• Harmonise the offences and minimum penalties to eliminate the need for people to cross borders to face less punitive penalties and escape the law.

World Vision International, East Africa Region will continue to invest in programmes that transform the lives of women and girls. Together we can amplify the voices of women and girls, garner more resources and firm up actions to end FGM.

By Irene Kagoya, Acting Regional Advocacy Manager , World Vision East Africa Region and David Nderitu, Impact and Communication Officer World Vision Kenya