By Hamu Madzedze
The United Nations entities said amplifying the voices of survivors of female genital mutilation (FGM) is important in raising awareness against this practice.
In a joint statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr Natalia Kanem, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell , OHCHR High Commissioner Volker Turk, UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous ,WHO Director -General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it is imperative that we turn attention to the voices that matter which is the voice of survivors of female genital mutilation.
"We must amplify the voices of survivors to raise awareness, inspire collective action ,promote their power and autonomy by ensuring they have an active role in FMG prevention and response interventions" said the executives.
The United Nations executives added that survivors have first hand knowledge of the challenges and information on how to eliminate the practice and ending it by 2030.
"It is crucial that we invest in survivor -led movements especially at grassroots level by dedicating resources that will advance their efforts in the fight against this practice" said the executives.
They said the United Nations entities remain steadfast in partnering with survivors as community champions and leaders, while ensuring their voices and perspectives inform programs to prevent and respond to FMG.
"As of 2023 ,the Joint Program supported more than 11 000 organisations of which 83 percent were grassroots organisations partnering with coalitions and survivor-led movements advocating for changes in policies and laws and championing changes to social and gender norms", they said.
Female genital mutilation is a violation of women's and girls rights and endangers their physical and mental health and limits their potential to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.More than 200 million girls have undergone female genital mutilation .
This year nearly 4.4 million girls will be at risk of undergoing FMG which equates to more than 12 000 cases everyday.
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