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:

2.2 million girls and women received prevention and protection services, more than double the number reached in 2024.
560,000 girls and women received FGM-related health services, counselling, and referrals, a fivefold increase compared to 2024.
1.8 million girls and young women participated in social and behaviour change programmes like life skills education.
1.2 million men and boys actively participated in activities to promote positive masculinity and advocate for FGM elimination.
313 million people were reached through mass media on FGM, women’s and girls’ rights, and gender equality
7.5 million people participated in community dialogues, with 4.3 million people making public declarations to abandon FGM practices.
Landmark legal advances were achieved, including the explicit prohibition of FGM in Guinea’s and Djibouti’s new Constitution.

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.