Youth group wants government to end medicalised FGM

Youth groups across Kenya have called on the government to end medicalised Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

The youth have written a letter to Anti-FGM Board Chief Executive Officer Bernadette Loloju, asking the government to increase disciplinary measures on medical professionals who cut girls.

Activist Sadia Hussein said the vice must stop and action taken against those practising it.

“We applaud our government’s commitment to ending FGM in recent years. Yet it is unacceptable that FGM is still being practiced by some medical professionals in Kenya. We are urging the government to increase disciplinary actions on those individuals that cut girls,” she said.

The activists are part of the Youth End FGM movement, a grassroots campaign that has made waves across the African continent and worldwide in recent months. The campaign has seen thousands of young Africans pledge to make theirs the generation that ends FGM by launching a global social media campaign – #IHaveSpoken – that breaks the silence that allows the harmful practice to prevail.

They hope their collective clout will encourage decision-makers to help them make their goal of ending FGM a reality by bringing about meaningful, long-lasting change at government level.

The campaign is being supported by The Girl Generation, the world’s largest Africa-led global collective of partners brought together by a shared vision that FGM can – and must – end in this generation.

Global Director for the Girl Generation Dr Faith Mwangi-Powell, “On such an important day like today where we come together to empower girls around the world, it is inspiring to see such passionate young people directly engaging with leaders,” she said.

She added, “I sincerely hope Mrs Loloju will heed their call of increasing disciplinary measures on medical professionals who cut girls. In doing so, she will be taking a huge leap forward in making the world a place that is safer for our girls.”

The Youth End FGM campaign has already reached over seven million people online alone and has secured the support of celebrities and influencers across the continent.

They want action taken ahead of the UN’s International Day of the Girl. Each year this day provides a platform to raise awareness of the unique challenges girls face globally and promote the fulfilment of their human rights.