International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM: How Education can break the cycle

According to UNICEF, an estimated 200 million women and girls currently alive have undergone FGM, highlighting the ongoing fight to end this harmful practice. Education has become one of the most powerful tools in the battle against FGM, especially in marginalized communities where the practice continues.

Understanding FGM: A Global Health and Human Rights Issue

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons, with lifelong physical, emotional, and psychological consequences. 

Despite global efforts to end the practice, millions of girls are still subjected to FGM each year, particularly in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. In many cases, FGM is performed as part of cultural traditions that associate it with femininity, marriageability, and social acceptance.

The Link Between Education and FGM Prevention

Education is one of the most effective ways to prevent FGM. When communities, particularly girls, are educated about their rights and the harmful effects of FGM, they are more likely to reject the practice. Educating young girls, families, and communities helps raise awareness of the dangers of FGM, empowers girls to advocate for their rights, and fosters a collective stance against harmful traditions.

For instance, at Bridge International Academies, education is considered key to preventing FGM. Focus it put on fostering gender equality and safeguarding in underserved communities. Ensuring gender equality in education is key to FGM prevention. In many regions, girls face significant barriers to education. By promoting equal opportunities in the classroom, we can help break cycles of harmful practices like FGM.

Key Contributions to Education and Safeguarding

Ensuring gender equality in education is critical to the prevention of FGM. In many regions, girls face barriers to education, and promoting equal opportunities in the classroom can help break cycles of harmful practices. Bridge International Academies, for instance, adopts a unique, evidence-based approach to education, ensuring that gender equality is prioritized within the classroom. 

This methodology guarantees that girls are given the same opportunities as boys to thrive academically, making strides in their learning at the same rate as their male counterparts. This gender-sensitive approach not only promotes academic achievement but also empowers girls by teaching them about their rights, including the right to be free from harmful practices such as FGM.

1. Gender Parity in the Classroom

Prioritizing equal learning opportunities for girls and boys is essential for academic success. When girls are given the same chances as boys to excel, they build confidence and become better equipped to make informed decisions about their bodies and futures.

2. Safeguarding Education: Keeping Girls Safe

Safeguarding measures, including regular messaging and dedicated sessions on how to stay safe, empower girls to speak up if they are at risk of FGM or other forms of abuse. Bridge has integrated safeguarding into its curriculum to play a crucial role in preventing and addressing potential threats to girls' well-being.

This includes Regular Safeguarding Messaging, Safeguarding Sessions and The "Child Champion Promise" where all school staff reaffirm their commitment to child protection by re-signing the "Child Champion Promise." 

3. Community Collaboration in Safeguarding

Child safeguarding cannot be achieved alone. Collaboration with local organizations, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and community leaders is essential to creating a broader network of protection for children, particularly those at risk of FGM. Local authorities and organizations must work together to intervene effectively and support vulnerable girls.

4. Empowering Local Communities for Action

Empowering communities to take action against harmful practices like FGM is vital. By engaging local authorities and organizations, and ensuring they know how to intervene and provide support, we create a stronger protective network for girls.

Bridge International Academies, for example, places a strong emphasis on safeguarding and education in underserved communities. By prioritizing gender equality and providing safeguarding education, the academy supports the wider movement to prevent FGM.

Efforts to prevent FGM must also be closely linked with initiatives to improve girls' access to education. Ensuring that girls can attend school, receive quality education, and remain in school through secondary education can help delay marriage and prevent FGM. Providing financial support, scholarships, and creating safe, inclusive educational environments are key strategies in this effort.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

On this International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM, we are reminded that promoting gender equality in education, providing safeguarding education, and collaborating with communities can help create a safer and more equitable future for girls—one where FGM is no longer a threat.

As we continue these efforts, governments, organizations, and communities are urged to invest in the education and protection of girls with a view of creating a world where no girl is at risk of FGM, and every girl has the opportunity to live a life free from violence and harm.