Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the partial or total removal of the genitalia of women and girls for non-medical reasons. FGM is practiced in 28 countries in Africa and in some parts of the Middle East. It has serious physical and psychological impacts on women and girls. Globally, it is estimated that 3 millions girls in Africa alone are at risk of FGM each year.
The good news is, change is happening.
Bringing an end to FGM in one generation is now a growing reality. Across Africa, whole communities are standing up and saying no to the practice of Female Genital Mutilation.
The Girl Generation launches on the 10th October 2014, marked by events for young people in Nairobi, Kenya, and Banjul, the Gambia, with a side event in London. The Girl Generation will provide a global platform to celebrate, and amplify the voices of, those working to end FGM, particularly across the African continent.
This is an African led movement to change the lives of millions of girls and women. The silence surrounding FGM has been broken. Now is the time for us to create real change.
FGM is an age-old practice that continues to exist because of patriarchy. But we can end it. With every girl we empower, with every girl who knows her rights, with every girl that does not undergo the practice of FGM, we are saving not just that one girl, but future generations. We are breaking the cycle. This campaign will ensure that we can begin to end FGM and slowly break the cycle of male violence against women.
We can end FGM in one generation. We are following the footsteps of giants like Efua Dorkenoo OBE, Nimco Ali and Leyla Hussein. I am The Girl Generation, you are The Girl Generation, we are the generation to end Female Genital Mutilation once and for all.