20/09/2026
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๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ข๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ ๐
๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ฅ๐
BU๐๐๐๐๐๐, DISTRICT ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ โ Manaal Relief Foundation MRF, with support from GIZ Somalia, successfully conducted its second Public Community Event under the Strengthening FGM Prevention: A Community-Based Awareness and Advocacy Campaign in Burtinle District, Nugaal Region.
The one-day event, held in Wadajir Village, brought together more than 100 participants, including community members, parents and caregivers, women, youth, elders, religious leaders, teachers, health workers, and members of the community advocacy groups. The event also brought together representatives of the Burtinle District authorities, elected district council members, village leaders, and the Wadajir Village Committee.
The event provided an important platform for community dialogue, awareness-raising and collective action to prevent and ultimately eliminate Female Ge***al Mutilation (FGM) and address Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ
Participants engaged in open and participatory discussions on the health, social and psychological consequences of FGM and GBV, as well as the important roles of families, parents, youth, religious leaders, teachers, community leaders and local authorities in preventing harmful practices.
The discussions also provided space for participants to share community experiences, concerns and challenges, and to identify practical approaches for promoting positive social norms and strengthening community-led prevention efforts.
๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฒ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ข๐๐๐ฌ
A key focus of the event was to amplify community voices and encourage voluntary public commitments to ending FGM and preventing GBV.
Community members and representatives expressed their commitment to:
โข Rejecting FGM and other harmful practices;
โข Protecting women and girls from violence and harm;
โข Speaking out against FGM and GBV;
โข Promoting positive and protective messages within their communities;
โข Supporting families and young people to adopt positive social norms; and
โข Strengthening community-led advocacy and prevention efforts.
๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฏ๐จ๐๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฌ
The event further strengthened the engagement of the two community advocacy groups established through the project. The groups played an important role in community mobilization, awareness-raising, advocacy, dissemination of key messages, distribution of IEC materials, collection of community feedback and supporting follow-up actions.
Their continued engagement is expected to help sustain community dialogue and strengthen locally led efforts to prevent FGM and GBV.
๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ-๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐
The successful event represents another important step towards strengthening community ownership, awareness, dialogue and collective action for the prevention of FGM and GBV in Burtinle District.
The views, concerns, commitments and recommendations shared by community members will inform continued advocacy, community engagement, monitoring and follow-up activities under the project.
Manaal Relief Foundation (MRF) remains committed to working closely with communities, local authorities, community leaders, religious leaders, youth, women, advocacy groups and other stakeholders to promote safer and more positive social norms and contribute to the prevention and eventual elimination of FGM and GBV in Burtinle District.
Together, communities can amplify their voices, strengthen collective action and create safer environments for women and girls.
