Overcoming female genital mutilation in the Horn of Africa

Context

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is widespread in Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan. FGM includes all procedures involving the removal of some or all of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. This seriously violates a person’s right to health and physical integrity. The procedure also often leads to serious physical and psychological consequences such as chronic pain, infections, complications during birth and trauma.

FGM is closely intertwined with prevailing social norms, gender roles and other types of gender-based violence (GBV). Social change is therefore needed in order to reduce FGM over the long term.

Laws against FGM have been in place in Ethiopia since 2005 and in Sudan since 2020. Somalia is currently working on the ban. However, the efforts of the responsible governmental and non-governmental actors to combat FGM are unsystematic and inadequate.

Objective

Regional, national and local actors and organisations in Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan are working effectively to change social norms so as to reduce female genital mutilation and gender-based violence.

Approach

The programme supports state and non-state institutions in the areas of skills development, joint learning and networking with other actors.

The programme also advises the relevant national ministries on how to effectively change social norms and thus better prevent FGM and GBV, for example through information and awareness-raising campaigns. The programme strives to mainstream FGM in political agendas for the long term.

It works closely with community-based organisations which use local awareness-raising measures to help break down the male-dominated structures in which FGM and GBV are rooted.

Last update: April 2025