Review of Effective Faith Engagement Strategies for Addressing Child Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation
About
Harmful practices against children, such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage, persist as deeply entrenched challenges, undermining gender equality and violating basic human rights. These practices are often viewed as cultural rites of passage, symbolizing maturity and social acceptance, but they take a heavy toll on children's physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Faith leaders hold unparalleled influence in shaping cultural and social norms that can either perpetuate or discourage harmful practices. As custodians of moral and spiritual authority, religious leaders are uniquely positioned to champion children’s rights and promote the alignment of faith values with the abandonment of harmful practices.
This review explores how faith-based interventions can foster significant social change by reframing traditions through a lens of protection and empowerment. Its theoretical foundation is anchored in social and behaviour change and the mind-heart dialogue which emphasizes the need to engage both the intellectual (mind) and emotional/spiritual (heart) dimensions of individuals and communities. This framework is particularly relevant for addressing practices like FGM and child marriage, which are intertwined with cultural, spiritual, and emotional values.
By synthesizing insights from global frameworks and localized practices, this review provides an understanding of the challenges, lessons learned, and best practices in leveraging faith-based actors as catalysts for change, it outlines key dimensions for ensuring it is effective and presents actionable insights for faith engagement to address FGM and child marriage.
