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11 June 2021 - News

SAVE THE CHILDREN WELCOMES THE APPROVAL OF THE ANTI-FGM BILL IN PUNTLAND

11.06.2021, Garowe, Puntland-- Save the Children congratulates the government and the people of Puntland on approving the anti- Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) bill as a key step towards a full ban on female genital mutilation in the region. 

No child should ever have to endure any form of violence, including gender-based violence, and abuse at all times and in all contexts. All children have the right to be protected.  According to Save the Children, about 90%[i] of girls and women suffer from FGM in Somalia.

In Puntland, Save the Children partners with the government and the local civil society partners to eliminate all forms of FGM.

Mohamed Abdulkadir, Puntland Area Representative, Save the Children said:

" Save the Children and its partners are committed to working with the government in Puntland to ensure that children's rights in Somalia and specifically in Puntland are protected. The approval of this bill is a massive step forward towards the abandonment of harmful practices like FGM in Puntland.  We applaud the commitment by the government to approve this very important legal instrument, and we look forward to working with them to ensure all girls in Puntland have the right to be protected from all forms of harmful practices”.