07/08/2026
Cultural Caravan Rallies Jigjiga Against Harmful Practices
Jigjiga, Somali Region – July 25, 2026 — The Network of Ethiopian Women's Associations (NEWA), in partnership with UNICEF, successfully launched a high-impact Community Caravan and Cultural Performance outreach in Jigjiga. The initiative brought together local residents, youth, and leaders to drive action against Female Ge***al Mutilation (FGM), child marriage, and violence against children across the region.
By combining live cultural entertainment with targeted advocacy, the event created an engaging public forum designed to address deeply rooted social norms through open dialogue.
Fusing Tradition with Advocacy
The caravan’s success hinged on a dynamic mix of live music and traditional Somali dances. These performances celebrated the region’s rich artistic heritage while creating a welcoming environment for honest conversations on challenging topics. The live cultural displays drew large crowds, maintaining high energy throughout the day and ensuring core human rights messages resonated in a culturally grounded, accessible way.
To reinforce the event's core message, NEWA deployed a comprehensive visual strategy:
• Custom T-shirts carrying clear advocacy messages were worn by staff, religious leaders, women, youth, and community members.
• Strategic placement of placards and banners around Jigjiga ensured key messages were unmissable.
• Informational brochures detailing the health, social, and legal consequences of FGM and early marriage were distributed directly to attendees.
This multi-layered approach engaged both active event participants and passersby, turning public spaces in Jigjiga into active hubs for community advocacy. The event also achieved wide reach through live broadcasts on Somali Regional TV and digital streaming across YouTube, Facebook, and NEWA’s social media platforms.
The Global and Local Imperative
Globally, more than 230 million girls and women have undergone FGM, with over 2 million young girls subjected to the practice each year before their fifth birthday. Concurrently, 650 million women worldwide were married as children, including over 50 million in Eastern and Southern Africa. To eliminate these practices by 2030 in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 5.3, the global pace of progress must accelerate dramatically.
While Ethiopia has made notable progress over the past two decades, national data often masks significant regional variations. Girls across different zones face distinct risks based on local social dynamics, economic pressures, and humanitarian conditions.
Because harmful practices are sustained by social expectations and gender inequality, ending them requires shifting community norms at every level.
A Movement Driven by Women-Led Action
Sustainable change relies on building grassroots coalitions that empower communities to reject harmful practices. The Network of Ethiopian Women’s Association recognized for its extensive network of 55 member organizations across federal and regional levels, NEWA was selected to lead this movement in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs (MoWSA), regional BoWSAs, and UNICEF support.
Drawing on over two decades of advocacy—including leading the landmark national Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Campaign established in 2006—NEWA utilizes a socio-ecological approach to mobilize community influencers, religious leaders, youth, and local organizations.
Through ongoing regional caravans, technical guidance, and direct community engagement, NEWA and its partners continue to build momentum toward a safer, more equitable future for every girl and woman in Ethiopia.
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