- “Young people want to take action, make their voices heard, and contribute to achieving the goal of ending FGM.” Dr. Diene Keita, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director for Programmes
Dakar, Senegal – 8 February 2022: In commemoration of the 2022 edition of the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme to Eliminate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), in partnership with the UNFPA West and Central Africa Regional Office and UNFPA Geneva, launched the Global Youth Consortium Against FGM.
The event took place virtually on Tuesday, 8 February 2022, with the participation of over 300 participants, including Partners, young people and the Permanent Representatives to the UN in Geneva for the European Union, Norway, Portugal and the United Kingdom. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Deputy Executive Director for Programmes Ms. Diene Keita joined UNFPA Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Ms. Argentina Matavel Piccin.
Addressing the event, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director for Programmes, Dr. Diene Keita expressed hope that the “Global Youth Consortium to end FGM” will bring further visibility and resources to our collective work.
“We look forward to continued collaboration with governments, civil society organizations, youth-led networks, the private sector, and all partners working for and with young people.” Dr. Diene Keita remarked.
The Global Youth Consortium was born out of the need to center young people in programs targeting the elimination of FGM. Current membership includes over 900 young people from 45 countries who are committed to achieving their vision of “Youth Leading a World Free of FGM by 2030.”
Launching the Consortium, UNFPA West and Central Africa Regional Director, Ms. Argentina Matavel Piccin remarked, “As we commemorate the International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM, I am pleased to officially launch the Global Youth Consortium against FGM today, Tuesday 8th of February 2022.”
The launch event took place a few days after 6 February, the International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM, which had as the annual theme, “Accelerating Investment to End Female Genital Mutilation”.
The British Ambassador to Senegal, Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau, Victoria Billing, reiterated her government’s support to gender issues. “The UK will continue to invest, not rest, to support the movement to end FGM.”
Such commitments from partners are critically and warmly welcome to bridge the serious funding gap of an estimated $2.1 billion dollars needed to eliminate FGM, and to prevent 68 million girls at risk of being subjected to FGM by 2030.
Contact:
Jacob Enoh Eben | Regional Communications Advisor | UNFPA WCARO - Dakar, Senegal | Tel: +221 33 859 8228 | Cell: + 221 77 358 6662; | eben@unfpa.org
