UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation
Accelerating the elimination of an extreme form of violence against girls.
Everywhere it is practiced, female genital mutilation (FGM) is an expression of entrenched gender inequality. Girls subjected to FGM are subjected to a systematic form of violence. Survivors often require life-saving care – urgent treatment to staunch haemorrhage, antibiotics to quell infections, surgery to address urinary backup or emergency obstetric care for complicated deliveries.
FGM persists for various reasons, including cultural and economic factors that make it difficult for girls, women and communities to abandon the practice. But it cannot forever withstand the voices of survivors mobilizing to change beliefs. The aim of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme is to accelerate the inevitable demise of this harmful practice.
UNICEF's response
UNICEF, in partnership with UNFPA, works to tackle female genital mutilation through interventions in 17 countries: Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Somalia, Uganda and Yemen.
The Joint Programme is generously supported by the Governments of Austria, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, AECID (Spain), Sweden and the United Kingdom, as well as the European Union. The Joint Programme, currently implementing Phase III, works with communities to transform social norms from within, while partnering with Governments to promote laws banning the practice and to ensure that girls have access to quality services for child protection and sexual and reproductive health.
In 2019, some notable results from the 16 countries covered by the Joint Programme include:
- More than 2.8 million people across 3,362 communities participating in public declarations of FGM elimination.
- The number of communities establishing surveillance structures to track girls at risk of FGM doubling compared to 2018.
- Three times as many networks of men and boys compared to 2018 being established, enabling men and boys to challenge discriminatory gender norms.
- Recording a 50 per cent rise since 2017 in the number of communities building girls’ capabilities and assets so they know and can claim their rights.
- 5.4 million people being reached through education, sensitization and social mobilization and 10.6 million people being reached through radio and TV.
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Last modified September 2020
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Resources
Policy Brief: Enabling Environments for Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation
This policy brief builds on evidence emerging from the review of key policy and legal developments in all countries where female genital mutilation is prevalent, and in particular experiences from the Joint Programme.
Empowering Girls and Women to Lead Change: Annual Report 2019
Accelerating Change targets the most vulnerable and marginalized girls and women, who face multiple and intersecting factors that increase their risk of undergoing this harmful practice.
Proposal for Phase III of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation: Accelerating Change
Since 2008, UNFPA and UNICEF have been implementing the Joint Programme to Eliminate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Ending Female Genital Mutilation – An Investment in the Future
This investment case shows the action required to ensure an additional 68 million girls are not subjected to FGM by 2030.
The ACT Framework: Towards a new M&E model for measuring social norms change around female genital mutilation
The ACT Framework measures and tracks changes in social norms in relation to female genital mutilation. It includes a menu of tested mixed-method tools and indicators that is accessible and practical for programme planners and is adaptable to the local context.
Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation Annual Report 2018
This report summarizes the achievements of the first year of phase III of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation: Accelerating Change.
Evaluation of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation: Accelerating Change
Independent evaluation of the Joint Programme phase I and II (2008–2017).
Evaluation Summary of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation: Accelerating Change (English, French, Spanish, Arabic)
Summary brief of the independent evaluation of the Joint Programme phase I and II (2008–2017).
How to Transform a Social Norm
Part one of this three-part reflection addresses the challenges and strategies employed by the Joint Programme through a social norms lens.
Putting It All Together: A Case Study from Nigeria
Part two of this three-part reflection is a case study of the Joint Programme in Nigeria, a country where 10 million girls will be at risk of FGM by 2030.
Transformation in Action: Tales from Phase II:
Part three of this three-part reflection looks at programme strategies to eliminate FGM.
Joint Programme to Eliminate FGM Performance Analysis for Phase II, 2014–2017
This report demonstrates the positive difference the Joint Programme has made in galvanizing support for the elimination of FGM across its 17 implementation countries.