UNFPA-UNICEF joint programme on female genital mutilation-cutting: accelerating change

The objective of the ‘UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting (FGM/C) Accelerating Change’ is to contribute to the abandonment of FGM/C in 17 African countries. This annual report is sought to convey a clear picture of the programme’s third year of activities.

The paper indicates that the programme has supported a holistic, culturally sensitive and participative approach grounded on a firm foundation of human rights. It also underlines that the programme has the capacity to support a sub-regional approach, encouraging cross-border social change.

Concerning key achievements in 2010, the document highlights the enforcement and application of national policy and legal instruments to promote abandonment of FGM/C. The communication campaigns organised to publicise the abandonment of FGM/C and the consolidation of partnerships with organisations committed to the human rights of girls were among the key achievements as well.

Main findings include:

• the engagement of religious leaders, although challenging in some areas, has proved to be crucial in communities where the practice is locally perceived to be part of Islam.
• teachers and traditional communicators can be significant groups for influencing public opinion.
  

Recommendations are that:

• the capacities of community-based organisations need to be strengthened.
• the capacities of key partners at the local level, as well as of the media and the health sector, need to be strengthened.
• more funding is required to sustain the momentum already achieved by a number of countries and to further scale up the programme’s culturally-sensitive approach.
  
• an increase in internet social media activities is recommended wherever it involves reasonable costs.
• a clearer focus on gender, human rights and culture in the coming year can shift the perspective of FGM/C from a “women’s issue” to a gender issue.
  
• rather than being ignored , men should be equally factored into the campaign against the practice.