My FGM Story
“Nobody should have to go through what I’ve gone through. That is why Iadvocate for Zero Tolerance for FGM”, Jillo Fugicha from Marsabit. On February 6, 2023, the ‘International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation’ we observed. This day provides an opportunity for governments, member states, civil society organizations, development partners, activists, and […]
MEA Policy Advocacy Strategy on Engaging Men to End FGM
FGM is more than just a cultural practice with adverse health consequences, but it is an issue of concern for women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). UNFPA has identified severe pain, shock, haemorrhage, tetanus or infection, urine retention, ulceration of the genital region and injury to adjacent tissue, wound infection, urinary infection, fever, […]
Youth Capacity Building Workshop and Conference on Gender Norms and FGM Advocacy
Our Youth gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to participate in a five-day capacity building workshop on Gender Norm and Female genital mutilation (FGM) Advocacy. The workshop was held from 27th September – 01 October 2021. The workshop’s aim is important to strengthen young people’s capacity on GTA to enable them to challenge harmful social and discriminatory […]
Gender Transformation Training for Traditional and Religious Leaders
Under the Global Spotlight Initiative, MenEngage Africa engaged Religious and Traditional Leaders for a Gender Transformation Training in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania in eliminating harmful practices such as FGM and child marriages, tackling toxic masculinity and promoting gender equality from 13th- 17th September 2021. We were honoured to be joined by Chief Theresa Kachindamoto, a […]
What can men do to help end FGM?
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a procedure that partially or totally removes a female’s external genitalia for non-medical reasons, causes irreparable and irreversible harm, as well as life-long health and psychological complications. The United Nations estimates that about 200 million girls and women alive today have been subjected to FGM. Led by MenEngage Africa, a member of the global MenEngage Alliance, men’s organizations have joined in a call to end FGM. Under the banner, “No Time for Global Inaction: Unite, Fund, and Act to End Female Genital Mutilation,” a coalition spoke out on February 5, International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation.
Men’s involvement & tough action by African leaders needed to stop FGM
Saturday marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) under the theme “No Time for Global Inaction, Unite, Fund, and Act to End Female Genital Mutilation”. FGM is a procedure that partially or totally removes a female’s external genitalia for non-medical reasons, causing irreparable and irreversible harm, as well as life-long […]
MenEngage Africa Newsletter 2020/1
FEBRUARY 2020 Our work is about deconstructing masculinity “In our quest to achieve gender equality, we must be guided by the principle that our mission as MenEngage Africa is to deconstruct masculinity. It’s not about creating a men’s and boys’ club,” said Bafana Khumalo, Strategic Advisor to the alliance at the opening of its […]
A grass-roots intervention to end FGM in North-West Cameroon
Mother of Hope Cameroon (MOHCAM), a member organisation of the MenEngage Africa Youth structure in Cameroon, shares their experience working with traditional leaders to end female genital mutilation in some Muslim communities in the North West Region of the country.
MenEngage Sierra Leone observes International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM
MenEngage Sierra Leone joined a growing number of activist individuals and civil society organisations on International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, on the 6th of February 2020, to condemn the practice and to call for its end. In Sierra Leone, the prevalence of FGM in women aged 15-49 is 89.6%.
International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM
On International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM (female genital mutilation), February 6th 2020, MenEngage Sierra Leone, joined millions of activists around the world to call for the end of the practice that violates the human rights of women and girls, including their rights to health, to be free from violence, to life and physical […]
An alternative to FGM at naming ceremonies in Igbo land
In Igbo land, FGM is usually carried out to coincide with the child’s naming ceremony, which is a festive event with gifts and refreshments. In Igbo culture, the naming ceremony comes up almost immediately after the birth of the child. It is normally done on the 7th to the 12th day after the birth of the child. […]
How two young Kenyan men are fighting FGM
Tony Mwebia and Elias Muindi are ardent campaigners against female genital mutilation and promoting the rights of girls and women.
Amplifying voices against FGM
Conducting awareness on the Prohibition of FGM Act of 2011 and to launch the Anti-FGM Youth Network in Mt Elgon, Kenya.
To end gender-based violence we need to break the culture of silence
For far too long, impunity, silence, stigma and shame have fuelled gender-based violence to alarming levels.
More challenges, fewer choices: Rural women are still in survival mode
Rural women and girls across Africa are more likely to be victims of harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriage than their urban counterparts.
HAKI YA BINTI – project mobilising action to safeguard rights of girls in Tanzania
This documentary showcases “Haki Ya Binti”, a project to mobilise action to safeguard the rights of girls and young mothers in Tanzania. The objective of the project is to combat all forms of gender-based violence (GBV), including female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage and teen pregnancies, perpetrated against girls, especially those living in rural areas. […]
MenEngage Africa calls upon its partners in civil society and government to prioritise promoting and protecting women’s rights
This Women’s Day, MenEngage Africa renews its call for a just and sustainable future for all.
AfricaGender Indaba – Edition 32 (40 Mins)
In this show, we ask: Why are men and boys important for campaigns such as 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children? We hear how the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe sets aside a ruling by the High Court denying sex workers the right to march to express their concerns. And, we […]
Pan African Parliament Women’s Conference questions role of parliamentarians in ending Female Genital Mutilation
Conference co-organised by Pan African Parliament, MenEngage Africa, Sonke and the UNFPA aims to accelerate the fight against FGM across Africa.
Strategising against FGM in Zanzibar
MenEngage Africa and partners host regional meeting to investigate the evolving structural drivers behind female genital mutilation.
MenEngage Africa Network Annual Capacity Building Programme in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Workshop to build strong partnerships for effective interventions engaging boys and men in achieving gender equality.
MenEngage Africa Newsletter 2017/1
March 2017 Involving men as active parents contributes to gender equality James Itana, MenEngage Namibia’s co-ordinator, participated in a unique event hosted by the Office of the First Lady, Monica Geingos and daily newspaper, Southern Times, with the theme “Fathers in today’s context”. The main aim of the event was to sensitise Namibian men on […]
MenEngage Africa interview on SANYU FM – Part 1
In April 2015, MenEngage Africa, which is coordinated by Sonke Gender Justice, participated in a regional East African consultative meeting held in Entebbe, Uganda, to create awareness of, and impart strategies on how to involve men and boys in efforts to curb child marriages and female genital mutilation (FGM). The meeting was topical to the […]
MenEngage Africa interview on SANYU FM – Part 2
This is the second part of the interview conducted with MenEngage Africa’s Mabel Sengendo and Mzwakhe Khumalo on SANYU FM in Uganda, following the East African regional consultative meeting on creating awareness on the harmful effects of child marriages and female genital mutilation, held in Entebbe, Uganda, in April 2015.