Understanding the Linkages Between Child Marriage and FGM in the MENA Region

On 6 February 2024, the Regional Action Forum to End Child Marriage in Arab States / MENA (RAF) hosted an online discussion on the linkages between child marriage and FGM with more than 30 of its members and experts to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.

The discussion covered global trends as well as in depth insight into specific contexts such as Sudan and Somalia, where both FGM and child marriage remain prevalent.

Speakers included:

• Rachael Hongo, Senior Data, Evidence, and Policy Officer at Girls Not Brides (GnB)
• Tamador Ahmed Abdalla, Child Protection Specialist at UNICEF Sudan
• Dr Amira Azhari, Director of the States Coordination Unit at the National Council for Child Welfare (NCCW) in Sudan
• Nunow Abdirahman, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Analyst at UNFPA Somalia

Read the RAF thematic brief for more information and key recommendations on child marriage and FGM.