Youth against FGM movement

Young people’s readiness for change regarding FGM is evident with their increasing engagement and support in accelerating the process of abandonment. Public declaration of young men pledging to marry only uncut women and younger women having less interest than older women in continuing the practice suggest that the Somali young people are important catalyst of change in promoting the end of FGM.

Youth organizations and networks, led and coordinated by Y-PEER Network, in Puntland, Somaliland and South-Central Somalia have been actively involved in various initiatives to accelerate the abandonment of FGM.

The youth movement against FGM uniquely applies the well-known organized diffusion strategy through which the knowledge and actions of one family or community can be transferred to and accepted by other families or communities, and Thomas C. Schelling’s social convention theory that is about interdependent decision-making whereby a family’s choice depends on what other families in that community choose to do.  The movement also relies on the social learning theory based on the concept that individuals and groups learn positive practices and behaviors from those around them by imitating role models. It is believed that with multidimensional approach to accelerating abandonment of FGM, involving different actors and role models and embracing various communication means and methods (communications caravans reaching out communities, Somali traditional drama and folklore including ‘magnetic theatre’, mobile technology and social media and etc.)

The movement facilitates collaboration among NGOs, Women led, Youth led, Activists, Community leaders, religious leaders, and research Institutes, working towards eradicating FGM. The anti-FGM movement conducts a robust media/communication campaign to end FGM- these interventions aimed at communicating FGM as a violation of the right of women and girls in Somalia in order to end the normalization of FGM as circumcision. We support the production of posters, bill boards, pamphlets, development and publication of FGM story book & using cartoons to facilitate understanding also for community members that are illiterate.