The First National Conference on FGM opens today in Mogadishu

The first national gathering on FGM opens today in the capital Mogadishu was attended by Somali leaders and influencers reflecting the success and challenges to end Female Genital Mutilation in Somalia

Somali Deputy Minister of Health Mohamed Said Abdilah said “We are ready to partner with the Global Media Campaign and Ifrah Foundation to end the FGM and also to get the message out on the mass media in the country, It is a huge health issue because of maternal mortality, child mortality, FGM is a huge priority for us”

Deputy Minister for Defence Abdulahi Olad in the conference said “we need to start an official campaign to end FGM; Majority opinion so far seems that FGM is not a healthy choice causing all types of damage to Somali women and girls”

Deputy Ambassador of UK in Somalia Mary Shockledge pledges the British government’s support to help end FGM in Somalia saying “We will never give up to end the FGM in Somalia.”

Religious leaders are the most prominent speaking role and the importance of legislation to end the FGM outreach efforts in Somalia.

Sheikh Ali Dheere present today at the high-level national gathering on FGM said: “It will take time to change attitudes, but we are talking about this on the radio, preaching in the mosques to end the FGM in our community.”

FGM is a harmful ritual, the severity of which varies across the cultures in which it is practised.

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