Deadline: 27-Nov-2025
UNICEF has launched a programme in Djibouti’s Arta Region aimed at strengthening child protection systems and combating gender-based violence, with a particular focus on eliminating female genital mutilation (FGM).
The initiative seeks to promote social and behavioural change within communities while ensuring that girls at risk or survivors of harmful practices receive the protection and support they need.
A central component of the programme is community mobilisation and awareness-raising among families, religious leaders, and community leaders. By engaging men, fathers, and boys, UNICEF aims to foster collective responsibility and commitment to abandoning FGM and promoting gender equality. This inclusive approach encourages dialogue and challenges long-standing social norms that perpetuate harmful practices against women and girls.
The programme also emphasises the provision of prevention and response services for girls who are at risk or have already experienced FGM. These services will be supported through strengthened community-based protection mechanisms and institutional capacity-building. UNICEF will work closely with local authorities, health professionals, and social workers to ensure that effective referral pathways and protection systems are in place.
Advocacy and mass communication campaigns will play a vital role in driving social transformation, spreading key messages about the importance of protecting children’s rights, and promoting the abandonment of FGM. Community surveillance committees will also be established and supported to monitor and protect girls identified as being at risk, ensuring early intervention and continuous follow-up.
In addition, the programme includes systematic monitoring, data collection, and analysis to better understand the scope of FGM cases and to guide evidence-based interventions. Training and capacity-building activities will strengthen the skills of both community and institutional actors, enabling them to respond effectively to protection concerns and support survivors.
Through this initiative, UNICEF reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding children’s rights and promoting gender equality in Djibouti. By combining advocacy, capacity-building, and community engagement, the programme aims to create lasting social change that ensures all girls can live free from violence and discrimination.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
