I was pleased to participate at a Webinar to launch the new Guidelines of the WHO on the Prevention of Female Genital Mutilations and Clinical Management of Complications which took place on 28 March 2025.
In my capacity as African Union Special Rapporteur on Child Marriage and other Harmful Practices, I insisted on initiatives taken by the African Union to address the course. The initiatives are carried out under the Campaign to end Child Marriage, launched in 2014 and extended in 2017 to 2023, but also the Saleema Initiative to Combat FGM, launched in 2019.
I also highlighted the importance of crossectoral intervention between the health sector and others sectors such as the Social Welfare, the Justice System and the Community.
The event saw the participation of Dr Pascale Allotey, WHO’s Director for Sexual and Reproduction Health and Human Reproductive Programme (HRP), Dr Pallito Christina, Scientist and FGM Lead, WHO and HRP, Pr Gamal Serour, Director of International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Wisal Ahmed, Global Coordinator, UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of FGM, Marianne Nguena, Interim Director, End FGM European Network, GBV Coordinator, Migori County, Kenya.
The principles that should inform the fight from the stanpoint of Health practitionners is that Medicalisation is not an option, training is key, humane approach to care for victims is a must and the voice of victim is central to any intervention.
The guidelines can be downloaded at:
https://lnkd.in/e8JpRstT