Programme

UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation

Accelerating the elimination of an extreme form of violence against girls.

Youth in Ouahigouya, in the north of Burkina Faso, participate in a youth caravan. — UNICEF/UN0569344/Dejongh

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Female genital mutilation (FGM) is one of the worst forms of human rights violations, rooted deeply in gender inequality. Survivors often require life-saving care – urgent treatment to staunch haemorrhage, antibiotics to quell infections, and at times even surgery to address urinary backup or emergency obstetric care for complicated deliveries.

FGM persists for various reasons, including due to social and cultural norms and economic factors that make it difficult for girls, women and communities to abandon the practice. However, through concerted efforts and joining hands with various stakeholders, significant progress can be made to challenge these norms and empower communities. The aim of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme is to accelerate the efforts to eliminate this harmful practice.

Asanti Bakaree, 15, in Ethiopia. — UNICEF Ethiopia/2022/Tadesse

Our response

UNICEF, in partnership with UNFPA, works to tackle female genital mutilation through interventions in 18 countries: Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, and Yemen.

The Joint Programme, launched in 2008 and currently implementing Phase IV, works with the aim of shifting social norms in affected communities while working with governments to put in place viable national response systems. It also prioritizes global movement building of allies working towards eliminating the practice of FGM as its strategic approach.

In 2024, some notable results covered by the Joint Programme include:

1,394,813 women and girls initiated conversations on FGM elimination and/or advocated for abandonment of the practice
1,749,492 girls and young women actively participated in comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) or girls’ clubs that integrate FGM in discussions on life skills
304,820 girls aged 0–14 were protected from undergoing FGM
849,502 boys and men actively participated in activities to promote positive masculinity
12,200 grass-roots organizations integrated coalitions and networks of youth, feminists, and women entrepreneurs working on the elimination of FGM
1,450,136 girls and women received FGM prevention and protection services

The UNFPA and UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation in the current fourth phase, is generously funded by the Governments of Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the European Union.