Dakar, Senegal, 1 November 2021: The UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme to Eliminate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in partnership with the UNFPA West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO), is organizing a Global Youth Roundtable on the theme “Accelerating Progress to Eliminate Female Genital Mutilation: Put Young People First!” in Somone, Senegal, from 3 to 5 November 2021.
The goals of the Youth Roundtable are among others, to highlight the contributions of young people to eliminating FGM since the inception of the Joint Programme; to draw on their contributions and perspectives to inform the Phase IV of the Joint; and to launch a global youth movement to accelerate the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation.
Participants will include youth representatives from the 17 countries of the joint program on FGM: Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Yemen, as well as other countries outside the joint programme such as Niger, Central African Republic, Ghana, Togo, Indonesia and Colombia.
UNFPA Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Ms. Argentina Matavel Piccin has expressed delight in having young people coming together and taking concrete action and leadership to stem this harmful practice.
“The challenges facing adolescent girls and young women are multifaceted; UNFPA will continue to support girls and women to overcome structural challenges within the context of our mandate of to Leave No One Behind.” Ms. Argentina Matavel remarked.
The engagement of young people as change agents is critical to ensure no one is left behind, including in ending Female Genital Mutilation. It is in this framework that the Global Youth Roundtable on FGM is being organized, to mobilize the support of young people to end FGM.
The event will take place in hybrid format at the Royal Baobab Hotel in Somone, Senegal, and online via Zoom.
Contact:
Jacob Enoh Eben | Regional Communications Advisor | UNPFA WCARO | Dakar, Senegal | Tel: +221 33 859 8228 | Cell: + 221 77 358 6662 | Email: eben@unfpa.org
Mandiaye Pety BADJI | Spécialiste communication média et réseau sociaux | UNFPA WCARO | Tel.+221774423573 | mbadji@unfpa.org
