The United Nations, through the UN Women Somalia, has formed a partnership with Ifrah Foundation to fight female genital mutilation (FGM) in Somalia.
This follows the signing of a partnership agreement between the two organizations.
Ifrah Foundation is a non-governmental organization (NGO) operating in Somalia.
A recent report by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) shows that Somalia has the highest prevalence rate of FGM in the world.
As per the UNFPA report, 98 percent of all women and girls aged between 15 to 49 years have been subjected to the practice.
Sadiq Syed, UN Women Somalia’s Country Programme Manager, witnessed the signing event on October 23, 2021.
Syed noted that the overall support for FGM in Somalia has been decreasing.
He called for more effort and resources from all stakeholders to ensure that women and girls in Somalia do not have to go through FGM again.
Ifrah Ahmed, who founded the Ifrah Foundation and is its Executive Director, said that the partnership will reach out to more communities around the country.
Ifrah also said that religious leaders, clan elders, women, men, and youth would be incorporated to help end FGM in the East African nation.