Her Voice. Her Future
PRESS STATEMENT
Virgin Heart Foundation Marks The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 6th Feb. 2024
Theme: Her Voice. Her Future.
Investing in Female Genital Mutilation Survivor-Led Movements to End Female Genital Mutilation.
The International Community marks International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female genital mutilation, every 6th February. FGM refers to “all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.”
FGM is a violation of girls’ and women’s human rights and is condemned by many international treaties and conventions, as well as by national legislation in many countries. Yet, where it is practiced FGM is performed in line with tradition and social norms to ensure that girls are socially accepted and marriageable, and to uphold their status and honour and that of the entire family.
Girls are today one third less likely to be subjected to FGM compared to three decades ago; however, progress needs to be at least 10 times faster to meet the global target of FGM elimination by 2030.
The number of girls at risk of undergoing FGM is projected to rise to 4.6 million in the year 2030 unless efforts to end it are intensified.
Girls whose mothers have a primary education are 40% less likely to undergo FGM than those whose mothers have no education.
Virgin Heart Foundation works with various existing community structures, including the community stakeholders, Community based organizations, Adolescent Girls, FGM Survivor Networks towards the elimination of Female genital mutilation in Imo State.
Through the UN Joint Programme on Ending FGM in Nigeria, Virgin Heart Foundation, had reached out to over five hundred FGM Survivors in Imo State between 2022- 2023.
The 2024, Virgin Heart Foundation in partnership with UNICEF will be working with the Network of FGM Survivors to …
Elevate survivor voices, amplify FGM survivors’ stories and experiences to raise awareness about the harmful practice and inspire collective action.
- Invest in FGM survivor-led movements by:
supporting FGM survivor-led associations, networks and coalitions for strategic movement building.
- Prioritize accessible, comprehensive, culturally sensitive services for FGM survivors and strengthening the skills of health, social, and legal professionals to deliver sensitive and informed care.
- Increase the power and agency of survivors through educational programmes, life skills training, and entrepreneurship opportunities to advocate for zero FGM cases in the next generation
