The UN General Assembly designated 6 February as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in 2012 with the aim to amplify and direct efforts on the elimination of this harmful practice.
The global theme for 2021 is: “No Time for Global Inaction: Unite, Fund and Act to End Female Genital Mutilation” which responds to the increasing number of commitments made and calls for these to be translated into tangible action.
Female genital mutilation is internationally recognized as a human rights violation that is deeply rooted in gender equality and discrimination; it has a devastating effect on the lives of women and girls.
Female genital mutilation has been criminalized in Tanzania since 1998 and collective efforts have seen a decrease in the practice in the last decade – the national prevalence now stands at 10 percent – but gains made have been uneven across the country. To accelerate efforts to eliminate FGM by 2030 – in line with national, regional, and global development commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania has launched a National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children (2017/18-2021/22), which supports a whole of community effort to empower women and girls and transform the norms standing behind FGM, ensuring that legislation and policies that protect women and girls are implemented and that prevention and response services for survivors of all forms of violence, including FGM, are strengthened.
In support of national efforts, TADIO, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Tanzania, the Embassy of Switzerland, the Embassy of France, the National Child Helpline C-Sema, members of the Tanzania Coalition Against FGM (TCAFGM), and FELM are jointly commemorating International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM.
As part of national commemorations, TADIO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MOHCDGEC) Reproductive and Child Health Section, C-Sema – the National Child Helpline, the Kipunguni Knowledge Centre, and The Network against Female Genital Mutilation (NAFGEM) will air four programmes on member radio stations in Arusha, Dodoma, Manyara, Mara and Singida, where FGM prevalence remains high, during the month of February.
For more information about the fight to end Female Genital Mutilation, visit UNFPA website. Visit our news update page for more updates from TADIO.