01/07/2026
IN PICTURES: Wajir Youth Pledge to Champion the Elimination of FGM Under the Future4Binti Project.
HIGH-LEVEL YOUTH DIALOGUE ON ENDING FGM AND HARMFUL PRACTICES
The Wajir County Chapter of the Youth Anti-FGM Network Kenya (YANK) participated in a high-level youth dialogue convened by Amref Health Africa under the Future4Binti Project.
The dialogue brought together youth leaders, government representatives, technical working group members, civil society organizations, health professionals, gender officers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders to strengthen youth-led efforts aimed at eliminating Female Ge***al Mutilation (FGM) and other harmful practices affecting girls and young women.
The meeting provided an important platform for participants to discuss practical solutions for addressing FGM, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), Gender-Based Violence (GBV), child and early marriages, and teenage pregnancies within Wajir County.
Objectives of the Dialogue
Strengthen youth participation in ending FGM and harmful cultural practices.
Promote community awareness on the health, social, and human rights consequences of FGM.
Encourage collaboration among government departments, civil society organizations, youth groups, and religious leaders.
Identify strategies for changing harmful social norms and perceptions surrounding FGM.
Enhance youth leadership and advocacy under the Future4Binti Project.
Key Discussions
Youth acknowledged that FGM remains deeply rooted in cultural beliefs and social norms. It was noted that many women, including mothers and elderly community members, continue to support and perpetuate the practice due to longstanding traditions and misconceptions.
Several myths associated with FGM were discussed, including beliefs that it reduces sexual desire, preserves family honor, or is a religious requirement.
Religious leaders clarified the importance of distinguishing between cultural practices and religious teachings and emphasized that FGM has no justification when it causes harm to girls and women.
The dialogue highlighted the severe consequences of FGM, including:
Physical and psychological trauma.
Increased risk of prolonged and complicated labor during childbirth.
School dropout and loss of educational opportunities.
Early and forced marriages.
Increased vulnerability to violence and discrimination.
Violation of the rights, dignity, and well-being of girls and women.
Youth champion further stressed that every member of society has a responsibility to speak out against FGM and support survivors.
Many acknowledged that communities can only eliminate the practice through collective action, awareness creation, and open dialogue.
Proposed Strategies
The meeting identified several key strategies for accelerating the abandonment of FGM and other harmful practices:
Intensify community awareness campaigns at grassroots level.
Utilize local media platforms, including radio talk shows, to disseminate accurate information on the dangers of FGM.
Strengthen engagement with Muslim clerics and other faith leaders who interact with large segments of the population.
Increase youth-led advocacy and peer-to-peer education initiatives.
Promote community dialogues involving parents, elders, women groups, and youth.
Support survivors and address stigma associated with speaking against FGM.
Strengthen partnerships among government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, and community stakeholders.
Promote education and empowerment opportunities for girls.
YANK Commitment and Pledge
As representatives of the Youth Anti-FGM Network Kenya (YANK), we reaffirm our commitment to championing the elimination of Female Ge***al Mutilation and other harmful practices under the Future4Binti Project.
We pledge to:
Serve as advocates and agents of change within our communities.
Amplify evidence-based messages against FGM and harmful practices.
Promote the rights, education, protection, and empowerment of girls.
Support awareness campaigns targeting young people and community members.
Collaborate with government agencies, faith leaders, CSOs, and development partners.
Encourage positive social norms that uphold the dignity and rights of girls and women.
Work towards a future where every girl grows up free from violence, discrimination, and harmful cultural practices.
Conclusion
The dialogue reaffirmed the critical role of young people in driving social and behavioral change.
Through collaboration, community ownership, and sustained advocacy, participants expressed confidence that Wajir County can accelerate efforts to eliminate FGM and other harmful practices.
The engagement concluded with a collective commitment from youth leaders, government representatives, religious leaders, civil society organizations, and community stakeholders to continue working together toward a society where every girl is protected, empowered, and able to realize her full potential.
Together, under the Future4Binti Project, we can build safer, healthier, and more inclusive communities where girls live with dignity, equality, and hope for a brighter future
Amref Health Africa
Youth Antifgm Network ke-YANK
Anti-FGM Board Kenya
Amref Health Africa in Kenya
