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28 Too Many |
Following the Girl Summit 2014, 28 Too Many will work with a partner to develop a youth focused project which uses our research findings to develop tools and resources for community based action to tackle FGM. |
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ACCM (UK) |
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ActionAid |
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Adinkra Magazine |
Adinkra is committed to raising the awareness of FGM/C and CEFM by writing articles about this in both the printed and online version of the magazine. In August 2014, Anowah was on Voice of Africa Radio and spoke about FGM/C. The new version of the magazine will be out by the end of September 2014. The hardcopy will be distributed to some states in America, London and Ghana. We will be in Ghana in December 2014 and are planning to talk about these issues at events that we will be attending. |
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African Union Commission |
The African Union Commission is committed to the fight against Child, Early and Forced Marriage and other harmful traditional practices affecting girls and women in Africa and will continue in a coordinated and concerted manner to strongly advocate against negative practices that impinge on or contravene the rights and welfare of the child, in particular the girl-child. Launch of the AU Campaign in selected countries that have high prevalence rate of child marriage, launches will be done over a three year period. We will have an impact assessment event with Member States, Regional Economic Communities and partners in May 2017 to see the progress of the country launches and the way forward. |
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African Women’s Forum |
To join and work in collaboration with Portsmouth City Council’s safe neighbourhood and Hampshire Police to introduce measures to combat FGM and CEFM through education and support. |
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Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association |
My name is Farooq Aftab, of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has for the past five years unequivocally condemned FGM, which is a heinous and un-Islamic practice. We will continue to do so through a variety of measures and means, such as distribution of national literature, anti-FGM discussion groups and workshops, awareness and public media campaigns and also through international measures such as A&E clinics in sub-Saharan Africa. |
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Aissa Sara Edon, FGM “Hope Clinic” |
At the FGM “Hope Clinic, I, Aissa Sara Edon will: Offer personal and holistic health treatment. Provide education and advice to families about the health risks and dangers of FGMs. Offer de-infibulation under different forms of anaesthesia. Inform families about UK law and safeguarding issues around FGM. Offer a safe place for women to be heard and to freely discuss these issues. Educate staff. Provide holistic care for women and girls and raising awareness about FGM. |
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Aja Jabbi, GAMCOTRAP |
To create awareness on the effects ofFGM and early marriage. |
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Akeela Ahmed, Christian Muslim Forum |
I’m going to try and give a platform for young girls and women to speak up about their experiences of forced marriage, violence and abuse to challenge taboos and raise awareness. |
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Alice Ekole |
I commit myself to raise awareness within my community regarding negative impacts of FGM and forced marriage. The crucial points of the girl summit charter will be displayed to young girls during seminars. Finally, I will release the gospel to young girls during campaigns for them to understand their identity and dignity. In the next couple of years, I plan to build a centre for young girls that has been physically and sexually abused in the past, for them to be re-educated and experienced the love of God. |
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All We Can, Great Britain |
Our commitment is that we will help our partners in Nepal and India to help end child, early and enforced marriage. |
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Alula Pankhurst, Country Director, Young Lives, Ethiopia |
Along with colleagues, I will carry out research on the causes and consequences of early marriage in 2014-15 among the children who are already married in the Young Lives study, will raise the policy implications of our findings and make these available through our websites: http://www.younglives-ethiopia.org and http://www.younglives.org.uk” by the end of 2015 |
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Amina Hanga, Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative (IWEI)/ Nigeria |
I pledge to talk about negative effects of child marriage and raise awareness in communities I work in. |
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Animage Films |
We will provide free copies and downloads of three short films that we have made highlighting the trauma caused by Forced Marriage and FGM in the UK to any individual or organisation working to eradicate these practices. |
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Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa |
In 2014,AWEPA islaunching a 4-year programme in Kenya, Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt towards abandonment. The programme is in collaboration with Plan Nederland, and will be jointly implemented by AWEPA and Plan Country Offices. The programme is funded by the Government of the Netherlands and will approach the issue from three levels: institutional, civil society and community. |
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Audacious Dreams Foundation, India |
We will teach about adolescent health issues and civic citizenship for rural girls. |
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Aurat Foundation, Pakistan |
Action 1: Developing information, awareness raising and dissemination material on child, early and forced marriage, as applied in local contexts, in Pakistan, and on the basis of the Charter adopted at the Girl Summit 2014 in London. Action 2: Dissemination of research knowledge, already developed as a study on ‘Forced Marriages and Inheritance Deprivation’ in 6 districts of Pakistan and; launch its findings through seminars in Islamabad, Peshawar and Karachi. The Girl Summit Charter will be displayed at the seminars. The summary of the study is available on our website: www.af.org.pk Action 3: Monitoring, compilation and dissemination of data/information on child, early and forced marriage along with other forms of VAWG to be published as annual reports and launched in Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar. Action 4: Using research knowledge on child, and early and forced marriage as an evidence for advocacy and lobbying for positive amendments in the ‘Prevention of Ant-Women Practices (Criminal Law Amendment) Act, 2011’ and ‘Child Marriages Restraint, Act, 1929’. |
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Avanti, sQuid, Whizz Education and Camara Education |
Our recently announced Project iMlango will aim to deliver improved educational outcomes for girls and boys in rural areas of Kenya, using:
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Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner, Sue Mountstevens |
I commit to continue to prioritise tackling domestic and sexual abuse, particularly against women and children during my time in office. As part of this I will work with partners and agencies across Avon and Somerset to tackle FGM. It is only by working together that we can properly identify girls at risk, protect them from harm and bring offenders to justice. |
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Beatrice Chelangat, REACH Uganda |
On behalf of the REACH programme, I planto usefootball for boys and girls to campaign against FGM and CEFM in Uganda. |
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BHORE – Child Marriage & Dowry Eradication National Campaign, Nepal |
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Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
Understanding the Economic Impacts of Child Marriage – International Center for Research on Women and the World Bank ($4 million over 3 years) – Supported by BMGF, in partnership with CIFF, ICRW and the WB will conduct a ground-breaking research grant to evaluate the economic costs of child marriage. It will generate robust global, regional and country analysis of the economic consequences of child marriage, and help to reposition the issue within global development. Tostan ($2.7 million over 4 years) – BMGF has awarded this grant to strengthen Tostan’s systems for monitoring, learning and adaptation of their Community Empowerment Program in 6 West African countries. This will help them to better understand factors that contribute to success in their work on governance, education, health, environment and economic empowerment. Request for Proposals (RFP) for Adolescent Reproductive Health and Nutrition in Ethiopia ($6 million over 5 years) focused on reducing gender inequities.These grants will seek to improve adolescent reproductive health and nutrition in Ethiopia by addressing structural determinants, including early marriage, amongst the most vulnerable girls. The foundation seeks to expand the body of work and knowledge in the adolescent health field by investing in innovative programs that show proof of scale and proof of impact, and are supported by national policies to change social norms that adversely affect adolescents’ ability to transition to a healthy and productive life. |
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Bishop of Coventry, Right Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth |
The Church of England pledges to work with other churches in the world wide Anglican communion to protect the dignity and liberty of women and work with other religious leaders to that end. I personally pledge to work with religious leaders in Coventry to seek to put an end to these ordeals of human suffering. |
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BRAC |
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breakthrough |
Breakthrough is working towards changing the social norms and traditions that perpetuate early marriage across two states in India – Bihar and Jharkhand. We are working towards this cultural shift by riasing the awareness of communities where this practice is prevalent through community mobilisation and engagement using cultual tools like the ‘Theatre of the Oppressed.’ Anew generation of youth leaders are also simultaneously being trained to lead the change. Breathrough is also training service providers and actively networking with them to ensurea 360 degree approach towards tackling this social evil. |
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Bruktawit Tigabu Tadesse, Whiz Kids Workshop |
I will continue to involve young girls to make and produce films and messages in my TV and radio shows in order to eliminate harmful practices. |
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BSR (Business for Social Responsibility) |
BSR will organize a webinar for our corporate members to discuss the role the private sector can play to support girls’ health and empowerment, including addressing and bringing awareness to sensitive issues such as female genital mutilation and child marriage. |
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Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), Bangladesh |
CAMPE is a coalition of more than 1000 NGOs working across Bangladesh ensuring access to quality basic education for all. This includes the basic element of gender justice and equity. CAMPE activities to be carried out:
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CARE International |
CARE is committed to women’s and girls’ empowerment globally and recognizes that international development and human rights goals will never be achieved as long as girls and boys are condemned to a life of poverty and inequality through child marriage practices. To this end, CARE commits to the Tipping Point initiative, a project lasting through 2017, which addresses child marriage in Nepal and Bangladesh and leverages advocacy and influencing opportunities in the U.S. and globally. The project is generously supported by The Kendeda Fund. Through Tipping Point, we will work with girls, boys, men, women, and community leaders to critically explore the factors that sustain child marriage practices and innovate ways to alter the forces perpetuating child marriage; bring different actors together—including men and boys—to build social movements for change; support sustainable, social and economic alternatives for girls that allow them to have more options in their own lives; and connect activists across regional and national networks. This includes CARE’s commitment to:
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Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation |
The Government of Catalonia joins the Girl Summit Campaign to support the international global task to eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM). It is committed to implement in all public policies a gender human rights based approach to transform inequalities among women and men. On behalf of the Government of Catalonia, the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation adopts women’s human rights as a main objective in cooperation development policies. This strategy is based on the Convention to Eliminate all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the international commitments reaffirmed at Beijing+20, the North and South women’s rights movements, and gender agendas that seek to transform the structures that bring about their subordination. Catalan cooperation works promoting women’s health rights, especially the right to their own bodies. Sexual and reproductive rights as a specific goal. It will also focus on women’s right to live a life free from violence. With this aim, the Government of Catalonia assume the following commitments: 1. Enhancing the Governmental Protocol for FGM prevention in Catalonia under the FGM Working Group. This Working Group was created in 2001 with the mandate of designing an action plan to end FMG and will develop the following actions: -Strengthen the capacities of those professionals involved in identifying and preventing FGM. -Raise the Protocol’s community based approach in order to involve local associations which work against this practice both in Catalonia and in the countries of origin. 2. In the framework of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the conference under the title “Women’s Sexual Rights and Reproductive Rights: a Transnational View of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)” will be organised. The conference is focused to increase awareness among professionals involved in the prevention of FGM as well as the immigrant community in Catalonia. Delegates from African organizations, “Tostan” and “Association des Juristes Sénégalaises” will be guest in the conference. 3. Advocacy on parliamentary action to adopt awareness-raising positions on FGM and promote measures to eradicate it within the international human rights framework. Moreover, parliamentary working group’s capacities on FGM eradication will be strengthened. 4. Setting up partnerships with women’s rights associations. 5. Awareness-raising on FGM addressed to the Catalan society in order to prevent and eradicate this practice. 6. Specific funding support: -€783,000: “Social, economic and political empowerment of pastoralist and agro-pastoralist women in the Somali region, Ethiopia”, Intermón Oxfam. -€805,000: “Women of Mali: sexual and reproductive rights of women, the Republic of Mali”, Cooperacció. |
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Catapult |
In our first year and a half, Catapult has crowdfunded $1,575,940 to back projects to end child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM). We pledge to continue to bring individuals, companies, and nonprofit organizations together to fight these issues and support girls’ and women’s equality worldwide. |
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Celestinecelest Community Organisation |
Raise awareness and support women, children, men and families affected and living with the consequences of FGM, engage with practicing communities and hold workshops for professionals and those working with families. Participate in research programmes and co-productivity. |
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Chantal COMPAORÉ, Première Dame du Burkina Faso, Ambassadeur de Bonne Volonté du CIAF |
Plaidoyer auprès de la commission de l’Union Africaine afin d’inscrire les MGF et les mariages d’enfants comme une priorité de l’agenda après 2015 |
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Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) |
CIFF is partnering with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the International Centre for Research on Women, and the World Bank to conduct new and important research on the economic case for ending child marriage. |
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Christian Aid |
Christian Aid will demonstrate that we are making a significant contribution towards a reduction in gender based violence and specifically to changes to the social norms which promote or condone it. In particular, we will scale up our work with faith groups working with both women and men to challenge and change social norms around gender based violence including harmful traditional practices such as early and forced marriage, female genital cutting, dowry and bride price. |
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Coalition for Adolescent Girls |
The Coalition for Adolescent Girls commits to advocating for a world where adolescent girls are able to fully realize their rights, navigate challenges, and access opportunities during the transition from childhood to adulthood and beyond. CAG commits to being a resource for and disseminating information todonors, policy-makers, and other key decision-makers regarding programmatic, funding, and research priorities for adolescent girls. |
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Comfort Momoh, MBE |
I will continue to influence change and confirm to work with all concerned. I will continue to support women at my clinic and educate everyone about CEFM and FGM. |
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Dasra |
Dasra will:
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Dawson Cornwell |
We will continue to support victims of FGM, Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence in offering legal aid or pro bono assistance where legal aid is not available. We will continue to provide legal training and advice to NGOs who operate in this field including Southall Black Sisters, The Sharan Project, Karma Nirvana, IKWRO, The Henna Foundation, Forward, The FMU and others. We will continue to support the introduction of legislation to give greater protection, by way of civil injunctions, to victims or potential victims of FGM and support the creation of a civil statute. |
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Devi Rughani from Nottingham, UK |
My pledge is to organise a meeting with both Nottingham High School and Nottingham Girls’ High School inviting National Council of Women members to raise awareness and discuss these issues. |
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Disabled International Foundation Sierra Leone (DIF-SIL) |
I am doing a global campaign to end FGM and CEFM and awareness raising I will totally commit myself into doing awareness raising , campaigning everywhere in schools , in the community and conferences including religious leaders, health workers, young people , un agencies, professionals , teachers , other organisations . And social media |
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ECPAT International |
By end-2015, ECPAT will lead efforts for an agreed upon definition, among major INGOs, UN agencies, Civil Society Networks, for situations of child marriage that constitute the commercial sexual exploitation of girls. By mid-2015, ECPAT will complete a high quality research paper onhow CEFM, in some cases, leads to the sexual exploitation of girl victims of such marriages through prostitution, pornography and/ortrafficking. By mid-2015, all member organisations of the ECPAT Network in 75 countries are informed, facilitated and encouraged to raise awareness of CEFM through local and national efforts. By early-2015, all member organisations of the ECPAT Network working directly with victims of CEFM will be encouraged to consult with victims in order to bring their voices into the formulation of legislation and action. Over course of the next year, ECPAT will raise awareness of CEFM through social media messaging on our official channels, including Facebook and Twitter. |
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END FGM European Campaign (Amnesty International) |
Through the creation of the END FGM European Network, we will contribute to developing a human rights based and coordinated approach to FGM and establish coalitions with organisations and partnership with public authorities to end the practice. |
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End FGM/C Social Change Campaign |
The End FGM/C Social Change Campaign will galvanise an Africa-led, global movement to end FGM/C in one generation. We will use a range of social change communications approaches at community, national, regional and international levels to bring about a social transformation in attitudes, promoting the value of girlhood without FGM/C. We support national social change campaigns in ten focal countries (Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, and Sudan). |
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Equality Now |
(1) Hold governments accountable to their international and regional commitments to end CEFM and FGM (2) Call for the repeal of sex discriminatory laws that contribute to CEFM and FGM (3) Advocate for implementation of the human rights framework by all governments to end CEFM and FGM |
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European Commission |
The European Commission will support actions to:
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European External Action Service |
The European External Action Service will:
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FaithAction |
FaithAction will commit to spreading the news about the summit, and encourage and support faith based organisations working with those on the front line in the UK. We will also disseminate learning to the health and social care voluntary sector strategic partnership |
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FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION OF INDIA (FPAI) |
To empower girls about their rights through awareness, education and advocacy by taking it on as part of our routine projects. Promote Comprehensive Sexuality Programmes in school through a signed petition on www.change.org We will commit to undertake the responsibility of educating girls at both rural and urban levels about their rights. Souls are not male or female. After sharing the knowledge, ideas and plans discussed and initiated by the youth and adults at the summit, I will share the same with our organisation (FPAI). FPAI plans to then conduct programmes with youth both at rural and urban level to educate them about the many issues and involve them to get their ideas to bring an end to the same. Girls- we are as beautiful, and as powerful as any other soul in the universe. The society will help us, but it is up to us — women to organize our strengths, individually and collectively; it is up to us to reach out and empower ourselves. |
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Farirai Gumbonzvanda Mutyavaviri, Rozaria Memorial Trust |
I have been wondering what these ‘safe spaces’ look like. Then it dawned on me when I was young where I felt the most free to express myself. Thus I have decided to fundraise to build a ‘tree house’ in rural Zimbabwe. A space where girls like me can go to be free, get help, learn vocational skills and plot how we are going to take over the world. |
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Fatimat Aduke Obelawo, Osun State Community and Social Development Project |
I, Fatimat Aduke Obelawo, promise to bring to the fore campaign against Early/ Child Marriages and FGM/C with more vigor to galvanize support against harmful practices as I go by the Information, Education and Communication components of the activities of the state Agency both at the community and state levels. |
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Fatou Bojang GAMCOTRAP |
The Gambia to be free from FGM, Early Marriage through awareness campaigns Advocate and raise the awareness of people, both Boys and Girls, Men and Women in all the Regions of The Gambia |
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Forum for the Development of Young People, Sierra Leone |
We will undertake a mass advocacy campaign on the electronic media about how we can end FGM and Early Child marriage. We will ensure that the message of ending FGM and Early Child Marriage becomes a thing of the past and shall work with all community stakeholders to ensure that it becomes a reality to the benefit of the unborn generation. |
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FORWARD |
Following the Girl Summit, FORWARD commits to continue to;
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Francis Odhiambo Otieno |
My pledge as a man is to organise meetings, community outreaches , elders forum, women forums, moran forums and conferences within the maasai community and conduct advocacy sesion with youths in and out of school , inviting National Council of youths to raise awareness and discuss issues concerning elimination of Female Genital mutilation, Girlchild education and ending gender based violence within my community. |
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Francisca Mandeya |
Be one of the ten champions in the campaign on ending child marriages titled “Not Ripe for Marriage” by Roots Africa, a Zimbabwean non profit which is campaigning against early, forced and child marriages. I am strengthening Roots Africa’s capacity as a youth led organisation by volunteering my development expertise and musical talent for the cause. I will record a song “Just because I am a girl” and also use a gender song recorded in 2010 with my children , titled “Takaenzana” meaning we are the same to ensure that the message on gender equality is heard. I will also help them design effective dialogues with local Chiefs to tackle root causes of early, forced and child marriages and provide leadership support for the campaign to be a success. |
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Gabriella Gillespie |
My true life story about what happened to me and my sisters when we became Child brides. I plan to spread my story as widely as I possibly can to show the impact that Child marriage has on young girls. |
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Girlguiding |
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Girls Not Brides |
Expand and empower the movement: We commit to bringing on 100 new members a year, to educating and engaging new champions, and to building the influence and coordination of member organisations and our partners through a new series of capacity-building webinars and meetings. Deadline: End of 2015. Help identify what works and how we measure it: Building on our work to develop a ‘Theory of Change on Child Marriage’, Girls Not Brides commits to launching a process to bring together experts and practitioners to identify indicators to measure progress and impact on child marriage. Deadline: July 2015 Hold governments accountable: Girls Not Brides will continue to advocate for major inter-governmental processes and fora, as well as governments in high-prevalence countries, to commit to taking action on child marriage. In particular, Girls Not Brides will advocate for a target on child, early and forced marriage to be included in the post-2015 development framework, and for child marriage to be addressed in global and regional intergovernmental bodies. Deadline: End of 2015. Expand the funding base: Lasting change has to happen on the ground and realising this on a meaningful scale requires adequate resourcing to support programmatic work. Girls Not Brides will therefore continue to advocate for an increase in long-term funding to address child marriage, from both existing and new donors, including funding from governments of high-prevalence countries. Deadline: Ongoing. Raise the profile of promising national efforts: Girls Not Brides will bring attention to actions from around the world that have the potential to advance national efforts to end child marriage. In particular, Girls Not Brides will continue to advocate for the coordination of efforts to end child marriage in high-prevalence countries, the development and implementation of nation-wide plans and the meaningful inclusion of civil society in nation-wide responses. Deadline: Ongoing. |
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Global Fund for Women |
To end FGM and Early and Forced Marriagewe need to put money into the hands of courageous women and women’s groups on the ground. TheGlobal Fund for Women pledges to establish a dedicated Fund for grassroots activism by women and girls to make that happen. Building on our 25 year track-record of funding creative, bold and talented women, our newfundwill empowerlocalgroups around the worldto scale up strategies that workand extend the impact of their ideas. Join us! Empower women and girls in Africato create lastingchange in their communities. We will use grants, organizational capacity building, and strategic convenings for learning and coalition building to address violence against women and girls. |
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Global Partnership for Education |
The Global Partnership will continue to intensify its efforts to enable more girls to get the schooling they deserve, particularly at the basic education level. To that end, the Global Partnership commits to:
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Government of Bangladesh |
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Government of Canada |
1. CEFM in the Post-2015 Development Agenda – Canada will continue to drive forward international engagement on CEFM. This year, the top priority is to build consensus for a target on CEFM in the post-2015 development agenda. We will work with partners around the world to this end. 2. Partnership with UNICEF– Canada is contributing $20 million over two years to UNICEF toward ending child, early and forced marriage. The project aims to accelerate the movement to end child marriage in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Yemen and Zambia by supporting efforts in these countries to strengthen programming and political support to end the practice. We are pleased to be working in close coordination with the UK and the Netherlands, who are also partnering with UNICEF. 3. African Union Campaign to End Child Marriage – Canada knows that the leadership of high-prevalence countries is essential in efforts to end CEFM. We are pleased to provide support to the African Union Campaign to End Child Marriage. 4. Royal Commonwealth Society – Canada will provide institutional support to the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS). RCS engages with youth, civil society, business and governmental networks to address issues that matter to the citizens of the Commonwealth, and its primary focus is the promotion of young people throughout the Commonwealth. Canada will support the efforts of the Royal Commonwealth Society to raise awareness in Commonwealth countries about the need to end CEFM. 5. Canadian Focus – Canada is committed to strengthening our domestic and consular approach to ensure that CEFM does not occur on Canadian soil or affect Canadians abroad. The Criminal Code protects against a broad range of criminal offences that may be committed both prior to and following a forced marriage. We will continue to build our capacity to help Canadians facing forced marriages abroad as well as victims upon their return to Canada. In 1997, the Criminal Code was amended to clarify that aggravated assault includes FGM. |
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Government of Denmark |
Denmark will continue its long-standing and staunch support – both politically and financially – to gender equality and empowerment of women and girls. Denmark will continue its fight against the harmful practices of Female Genital Mutilation and Child, Early and Forced Marriage that ruin the lives of thousands of young girls and women. |
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Government of Egypt, National Population Council |
Egypt is committed to make all efforts to preserve the dignity of the girl child, and the value of the girl of being “whole” and in control of her own body and life. We are committed to promoting girls’ education and encouraging all those who are rejecting FGM/C and Child Marriage in Egypt to say it out loud and influence others. Egypt is committed to implement a two five years’ strategies targeting abandonment of FGM/C and prevention of CEFM. Egypt is committed in getting the laws that criminalize FGM/C and protect from CEFM implemented through the mobilization of law enforcement stakeholders at all levels and creating general awareness. Egypt is committed to protect the girl child from FGM/C and CEFM through encouraging positive social change within a comprehensive family rights and service package. Egypt is committed to have a good basis of data, research and information on the current status of FGM/C and Child Marriage that it can base its strategies and interventions on coupled with a good Monitoring and Evaluation system to track progress. |
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Government of Ethiopia |
Ethiopia commits to achieving the total elimination of FGM/C and Child, Early and Forced Marriage by 2025 through a strategic, multi-sectorial approach. Our goal is also in line with Ethiopia’s objective to reach middle income country status, with the country’s overall development being closely linked to greater opportunities for women and girls. Our approach puts girls at the heart of our commitment, working closely with them, their families and communities, to end these practices for good and break the cycle of harmful traditional practices. We will achieve our aim through a four pronged approach:
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Government of Ghana |
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Government of India |
Transcript of speech presented by Indian High Commissioner to the UK, H.E. Mr Ranjan Mathai From India’s perspective the prevalence of child, early, and forced marriage is a matter of serious concern and calls for even more concerted action than has been carried out so far. Strong and Comprehensive National Responses – as your programme says. India has put in place legislation starting with the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006, has begun compulsory registration of marriages following the orders of the Supreme Court of India, and taken a number of steps at the Central Government and State Government levels for effective implementation of the legal provisions. These have included both incentives and facilities to ensure that marriages are delayed till the legal age, and demonstrative penal action against violations of the law. The median age of marriage has steadily gone up over the last 2 decades. The origin of CEFM lies in poverty rooted traditions and has been perpetuated by lack of education and awareness. Every effort is being made to expand awareness through workshops, seminars and mass media campaigns. Also specific government schemes for empowerment of adolescent girls (education, health, vocational training). The Budget announced on 10th July had allocations of about £10 billion for women and girls. So much govt. India’s experience shows even more rapid elimination of CEFM when poverty is tackled effectively, and education with participation in our democratic society provide the opportunities that can be life changing. Some young women in our Commonwealth Games team in Glasgow commencing tomorrow participate in sports like boxing in which a generation earlier they were invisible. Our cultural icons and sporting heroes help spread the message for the young girls: get educated, not married, just yet. India’s young will lead us on in accelerating the pace of change through grassroots action at the national as well as international level. We are part of a tidal movement of global change in support of girls, and India acknowledges the value of work at the UN and your initiative. We know that 250 million women voted in India’s last elections. Some 50 million would have been young women voting for the first time and they voted for change. And, they will ensure that the transformation of India will help eliminate child marriage most decisively. When you next meet for a Summit a young Indian woman will address you on progress, while I disappear. |
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Government of Ireland, Irish Aid |
We are strongly committed to promoting the empowerment of women and ending FGM and CEFM and we will continue to deepen our engagement with a range of partners to deliver on this commitment.
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Government of Japan |
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Government of Kenya |
The Government of Kenya is committed to:
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Government of Liberia |
Transcript of speech given by Minister of Gender and Development,Julia Duncan – Cassell: Liberia is appreciative of this invitation to participate in this important Summit. On behalf of President and Government, I bring you greeting and commitment to end FGM and CEFM. The issue FGM is a delicate issue in the African context, particularly amongst elements of traditional African societies. Liberia is working frantically to end all forms of violence against women and girls, including FGM. Critical to note that ending this form of violence, like any other form of violence requires analysis of the root cause and addressing the same. In Liberia, FGM is a multi-faceted phenomenon – cultural, tradtional, economic, and social. Thus the approach taken by GoL in ending the practice is a gradual process, dialoguing with traditional leaders and practitioners of FGM. Provision of training for the traditional leaders and provision of alternative income generating activities for livelihoods sustainability. Internationally, Liberia has ratified most of the major instruments for the protection of women’s and child’s rights and other empowerment. Traditional practices are not all harmful but those which impact the basic rights of women and girls must end. Ending FGM means ensuring the negative implications of the practices are known by all. The traditional leaders must be consulted and be at the forefront of those advocating against this. Let me share with you, some of what we are doing in Liberia:
We recognise that ending FGM requires work in many areas of society and service provision. The Government of Liberia has a policy on girls education and the protection of school girls through the teachers’ code of conduct. Putting the policy into practice is our own commitment. Similarly when the social protection policies are improved, there are better outcomes for girls. The Government of Liberia is committed to ending FGM.
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Government of Mali, National pour la lutte Contre l’Excision |
– Elaboration d’un nouveau plan d’action pour l’abandon de l’excision 2015-2019; – Mise place du comité de suivi de l’adoption de la loi contre la pratique de l’excision; – Adoption d’une loi contre la pratique de l’excision à l’horizon 2018. |
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Government of Mozambique |
Em representação do Governo de Moçambique, nos engajamos a continuar a luta contra o casamento prematuro e forçado no país. Com base no trabalho que tem sido realizado iremos desenvolver uma estratégia multi-sectorial de prevenção e eliminação dos casamentos prematuros, cuja implementação efectiva requererá recursos financeiros e humanos, bem como colaboração com a sociedade cilvil, grupos religiosos, meios de comunicação social, parceiros internacionais, entre outros. No dia 28 de Julho lançaremos, ao mais alto nível, uma campanha nacional de sensibilização para despertar a consciência geral sobre a problemática do casamento prematuro em Moçambique. |
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Government of Nepal |
The Government of Nepal pledges:
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Government of Niger |
Le Niger a réduit considérablement le taux de prévalence des MGF grâce à des actions mises en œuvre depuis 1998 ; ce qui a permis une réduction de plus de 50% : 5% en 1998 à 2% en 2012[1]. Mais il n’en est pas de même en ce qui concerne le mariage des enfants, précoce ou forcé, parce que les normes sociales condamnent les naissances en dehors du mariage ; c’est une question d’honneur pour la famille car une fille enceinte traduit un comportement léger de sa part et porte atteinte à l’honneur de sa famille; ce qui explique que les filles sont données en mariage très tôt – 76% des jeunes filles sont mariées avant 18 ans[2] – et toutes les catégories de familles, qu’elles soient pauvres, riches, rurales ou urbaines, le pratiquent. Pour mettre fin à cette pratique, nous nous engageons à :
[1] EDSN 1998, EDSN/MICS 2012 [2] EDSN/MICS 2012 : 20-24 ans : 76.3% ; 20-49 ans : 76.9% |
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Government of Norway |
The Government has presented a new strategy to increase our international effort against FGM. The Norwegian government will commit to:
Ending FGM, child and forced marriage is a joint responsibility. We are ready to go this way. |
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Government of Sudan, The National Council for Child Welfare (NCCW) |
Continuing and strengthening Social dynamics for change towards abandonment FGM/C through the Saleema initiative, and CEFM according to the proposed national strategy for addressing CEFM which has been drafted. Theseactions will be held in light of the global Joint Programme and Girl’s Summit Charter 2014. |
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Government of Sweden |
The Swedish government is committed to supporting the creation of preconditions for better living conditions for people living in poverty and under oppression. Female Genital Mutilation and Child, Early and Forced Marriage fall in the category of oppression. Starting at home, FGM has been against the law in Sweden since 1982. In 1999 the loophole that allowed girls to be taken abroad to undergo FGM was outlawed. As of July 1 this year new law provisions strengthen the protection against forced marriage and child marriage. Two new offences have been added; the offence of coercion to marry and the offence of luring someone to travel abroad with the purpose of forcing them to enter into marriage. Previous possibilities of children being granted exemption to marry have been completely abolished. Children should be allowed to be children. The Swedish government is currently finalising a regional results strategy to strengthen women’s and children’s health in Africa. Over the coming 5 years the government plans to put over 350 million US Dollars into the strategy. A key area of the strategy is increased gender equality with a focus on preventing child marriage and sexual and gender based violence, including of course female genital mutilation. It is a strategy for change. In addition, the Swedish government supports key institutions that are active in our joint work to strengthen women, boys and girls rights. During 2014 the Swedish government will contribute almost 80 million US Dollars to UNICEF and 65 million US Dollars UNFPA in core support alone. To add momentum we will also work with UNFPA and UNICEF to iron out the details for a major Swedish contribution of up to 7 million US Dollars to support the abandonment of FGM. The Swedish contribution will be in support of accelerating change. We need to make a difference today, tomorrow and for coming generations of girls and women. |
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Government of Switzerland |
At the multilateral level, Switzerland substantially contributes to end early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation as serious forms of human rights violations through core contributions to international organizations: UNFPA: CHF 16 million/year for 2014-16, UNICEF: CHF 22 million /year for 2014-16 and UN-Women: CHF 14 million/year for 2014 Specific multi-bi contributions to:
At the bilateral level, Swiss development cooperation mainly works through its basic and non-formal education programs to address the phenomenon of early marriage challenges (about CHF 29 million/year). Research by the University of Zurich on child wellbeing and development, aimed inter alia at improving effectiveness in changing norms, also receives Swiss government support. |
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Government of Tanzania |
Implementation of the national child marriage campaign entitled Child Marriage Free Zone, to be scaled up nationally to create more awareness among duty bearers and rights-holders of the harmful nature of the practice. The review of Law of Marriage Act will be conducted as a priority to ensure minimum age of marriage of 18. The enforcement of the law criminalizing FGM will be strengthened through Police Gender and Children’s Desks, and through having special sessions for SGBV cases in courts. Organisations protecting girl children from FGM and child marriage, including those providing alternative rites of passage, will be supported by the Government. |
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Government of the Netherlands |
International
Political support and policy change/ strengthening:
Funding: Global Programme to accelerate action to end child marriage (UNICEF, UK, Canada, Netherlands), 20m euro 2014-2017.
New Programming – in consultation and cooperation with our partner NGOs of the Child Marriages Fund and our embassies a new CEFM program will be developed for 2015-2017. Existing Programming – mapping the current programs that contribute to, but that are not focused solely or primarily on ending CEFM and FGM. Domestic
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Government of the Republic of Zambia |
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Government of the United Kingdom |
Domestic Action FGM Punishment and enforcement
Protection and support
Preventing FGM happening to women and girls
Early Forced Marriage Punishment and enforcement: Improved Crown Prosecution Service response to forced marriage. Protection and support: £60k additional funding for the Forced Marriage helpline run by Karma Nirvana this financial year. Prevention: Launch of community and faith leader’s declaration against forced marriage and Forced Marriage awareness week.
FGM and EFM
International Action
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Government of the United States of America |
Early and Forced Marriage
FGM Domestic:
International:
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Government of Uganda, Ministry for Gender, Labour & Social Development |
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Government of Yemen |
We support fixing the minimum age of marriage in Law and pledge to end all forms of violence against girls. |
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Habiba Al Hinai, Human Rights Activist and Blogger, Sultanate of Oman |
To convince my government to take the issue of FGM seriously and start awareness programmes to end it. |
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Hats Community Empowerment Programme |
At HACEP-Ghana, we are committed to providing safe and inclusive community spaces where girls and women can develop and raise their voices. We will achieve this by ensuring that:
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Hawa Trust |
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Health Policy Research Organization – Kurdistan region of Iraq |
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Hekate Papadaki, ROSA Fund |
I pledge to continue campaigning until training on FGM and CEFM is in all schools and there are services for survivors around the country. |
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Hibo Yussuf Hussein, Global Give Back Circle Beneficiary |
Sensitization of women and girls through structured visits in schools and homes, and discussions surrounding the effects of FGM and women’s health related issues. Empowerment of women and girls through education on their rights in the society. Enlightening women and girls on the advantages of education as a means to avoid early child and forced marriage. |
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Hope 4 Young Girls Tanzania |
We commit to work closely on campaigns to end child marriage, teen pregnancy, and in supporting girls’ education and empowerment |
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Inter – African Committee, Mariam Lamizana, Présidente |
Le renforcement ou la création d’un pont entre le CIAF et les autres organisations nationales et internationales. |
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International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers |
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International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) |
We recommit ourselves to a world free of child, early and forced marriage and FGM/C. We pledge to undertake a multi-year (2014-2017), multi-country effort to document the economic costs of child marriage around the globe. Further, we pledge to leverage this valuable evidence through targeted, international and national-level advocacy that will augment the growing global movement by proving to policymakers, for the first time, the economic case as to why they must invest, right now, to end this practice. We will undertake this and other advocacy related to ending CEFM and FGM/C both in our institutional capacity and in collaboration with our national and international partners within and beyond the Girls Not Brides movement. |
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International Children’s Centre, Turkey |
Researching, preparing and publishing a report on child, early and forced marriages in Turkey. Awareness raising activities. We will champion for the rights of the girl child to freedom from violence including child, early and forced marriage and FGM, to enjoy a life of dignity, to enjoy good health and quality education in Turkey and everywhere in the world. |
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International Committee for Rehabilitation Aid to Afghanistan (ICRAA) |
The ICRAA will develop programmes for poorly educated girls wholive in rural areas of Afghanistan. The ICRAA will also improve the situation of girls in Afghanistan, particularly forced marriages and the denialof education. |
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International Rescue Committee (IRC) |
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International Women’s Health Coalition |
International Women’s Health Coalition advances the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women and young people, particularly adolescent girls, around the world. Ending child, early and forced marriage and supporting girls who are already married is a critical piece of this work. IWHC commits to helping achieve a world free from child, early and forced marriage by:
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Iranian & Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation (IKWRO) |
Through our Girls Group we, the Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Right Organisation (IKWRO) commit to developing young female leaders from Middle Eastern and North African communities as forces for change. |
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Ismat Jahan, Head of National Trauma Counseling Centre, Bangladesh |
To raise awareness on the Bangladesh Government commitment at girl summit 2014 among the stakeholders (October-November 2014) |
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JAN Trust |
We will be committed to working with front-line practitioners, young people, the community and perpetrators in order to raise awareness, educate and prevent forced marriages. We will also continue to provide holistic support to victims. Ending CEFM and FGM must be a global priority. |
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Kani Touray, GAMCOTRAP |
As an intern of GAMCOTRAP and member of GAMCOTRAP youth advocacy group (GAMYAG), I plan to raise awareness amongst my fellow young people in order to share my experience and knowledge on Female Genital mutilation, Child, early and force marriage as well as other issues that are hindering the development of girls. I am also in youth groups where some people have no idea about these harmful issues and they need to be enlightened about the fact that girls are vulnerable too. |
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KARMA NIRVANA |
Engaging with 50 schools across the UK to raise awareness and understanding about early marriage amongst educators and safeguarding teams, implementing governments forced marriage guidance. We will develop a comprehensive PHSE plan about early marriage that will be delivered young people across the schools. We will seek the engagement of young people and identify FM champions within the schools from both young people and teachers. Our message is that early marriage is a child protection issue and every school has a part to play if we are to prevent these abuses our vision is for national school engagement. |
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Keith Niven, Detective Chief Superintendent, Metropolitan Police |
I will work with community TV and radio to raise theissues. |
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Lenkai School |
As a Humanitarian, an Activist and a Mentor to the girls who have undergone FGM and who haven’t,I will stand up to fight for the rights of these innocent girls within the Maasai community, train them in school and be in the front line to End FGM and retention of girls in schools within my reach. |
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Lilyemen |
TheLilyemen team hasalready conducted workshops on CEFM and FGMwith the Yemeni community in Sheffield, and are hoping to go to Liverpool, Birmingham and Cardiff next. |
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Lord Jack McConnell, First Minister of Scotland 2001-2007 |
I pledge to continue to campaign for decent funding from Scottish authorities for those trying to stop FGM; and to establish a Scottish event, before the end of 2014, bringing together campaign groups and people in authority to step up efforts to end forced marriage in Scotland. |
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Lubna Maktari, Independent Yemen Group |
All women have the right to live free of the abuse of FGM and forced marriage. My name is Lubna Maktari, I am a British Yemeni committed to helping British women understand their rights. I’ve organised the ‘Dolls for Child Brides’ Campaign which is expanding from London to other parts of the UK. We run workshops to engage women from susceptible or vulnerable communities to take part in a movement against FGM and enforced marriage and to empower them to make a stand against this abuse of women and children’s rights. |
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MAMTA- Health Institute for Mother and Child |
Based on its earlier work and experiences on the issue of child and forced marriage, MAMTA-HIMC strongly supports the approaches that enhances self-efficacy of adolescent girls and boys; which are ‘gender transformative’ in nature and works simultaneously with both girls and boys; works towards making social/community norms gender equitable; and those that are founded in the safe space concept (again for both girls and boys) to provide an opportunity for meaningful engagement to girls and boys in marginalized communities. MAMTA-HIMC as always will continue to work with most marginalized population. Organization in future aims to take on interventions based on these approaches while building robust evidences for each to support its scale up. Besides, organization will work towards strengthening system’s response to the issue by prioritizing the issue in the national, state and district agendas/plan of action. MAMTA-Health Institute for Mother and Child, New Delhi, India, commits to the cause of ending Female Genital Mutilation and Child and Forced Marriages with focused work in South Asia. We believe in and support approaches that promote gender equitable norms and are gender transformative in nature. Gender, Sexuality and Rights are the crosscutting issues in our interventions with young men and women. MAMTA-HIMC will continue working with local, national and international bodies especially at South Asia level to strengthen policies and actions on protecting and promoting the interest of the girl child. System’s strengthening and bringing multi-sectoral efforts to the cause along with community led actions will be the priority. MAMTA-HIMC will intensively work to keep the issue high on national, state and district agenda while networking with other NGOs, CSOs, institutions and corporates and building their capacities to undertake actions to end such practices. |
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Margaret Kasiko. Gender Technical Adviser/MoES, Uganda |
I will take a personal initiative to fight with passion the vice of CEFM in my country Uganda. |
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Marie Claire UK |
Ongoing coverage supporting the cause across marieclaire.co.uk and Marie Claire UK magazine throughout 2014/15. Ongoing support on the website and magazine – and specifically web and social coverage surrounding the Girl Summit. |
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Mary Small, Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children |
To use various culturally appropriate communication strategies to create awareness on the health effects of FGM and CEFM. These channels will include beneficiaries initiating songs, integrating subject matter into training sessions, dialogue with community members, as well as lobby policy makers to take a positive stance on the issues. While the focus is on girls who will lead the change process, other target groups should be trained to also advocate on their behalf. |
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Melissa Kubvoruno, Rozaria Memorial Trust, Zimbabwe |
I will communicate with my schoolmates about CEFM, and become an active member of the human rights club. But mostly SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO CAN’T SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. |
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Mercy Corps |
By 2016 we will have supported at least 15,000 girls at risk of early marriage, to stay at school. |
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Merveille Ntumba, DRC |
I commit to follow up the Summit in my country in order to end child marriage by working with traditional leaders, girls, boys and media. |
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MIFUMI |
We will campaign to reform the custom of bride price to remove the unacceptable elements that lead to violence and abuse including the risk of child marriages. We will lobby for changes in legislation, policy and practice to remove the demand for payment and refund of bride price as a condition precedent to a valid marriage or its dissolution. |
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Miss Pretty Chavango, Freelance journalist |
Write in-depth stories on effects of FGM & CEFM as a means to sensitize members of the public. |
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Moving the Goalposts Kilifi |
We are going to train 4000 girls on sexual reproductive health and rights issues and we will train 500 girls as leaders in their community. |
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Musa Jallow, Finance Officer, GAMCOTRAP |
As a Youth Leader in my community I will challenge FGM, Early & Forced marriage and other Harmful Practices through dialogue with community members |
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Nahid Toubia, Sudan |
I will help organisefaith leadersin Sudan to commit to stopping FGM within their generation. |
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National Interreligious Network Nepal |
“Children are the ornaments of the home. A home without children is like a home without light” Equality of Girls and Boys to be adorned with full of divine virtues. “Virtue is the muscle tone that develops from hourly training of spiritual warrior” Priorities in education must be given to the girls in case there are more boys and the family cannot afford equally to all. Because girls will be the first educator. Actions: 1. Run several children moral classes for children and junior youths. 2. Prepare volunteer teachers for the conducting of these classes. 3. Meet parents periodically, to updates children activities. 4. Involve religious leaders to address the children moral classes. 5. Involve children and junior youth to reduce the social harmful practices |
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Nick Brown |
1. I shall complete and submit for publication, a short series of articles on FGM/C and male circumcision by 16th October 2015. 2. As part of my research, in respect of the above, I shall correspond with the Islamic Sharia Council, the Muslim College and the Muslim Council of Britain to understand better their respective positions and actions in relation to FGM/C. I shall do this leading up to 16th October 2015 and I shall keep this action under review thereafter, depending on responses. 3. In the event that the above articles are published, I shall send copies to key parliamentarians and journalists. I shall do this as soon as is reasonably practicable upon publication of each article. 4. I shall sign up for the FGM/C e-bulletin referred to within the online Government literature. I shall do this by 28th August 2015. 5. I shall encourage friends and colleagues to find out more about FGM/C, with particular reference to the work of UNICEF and Girl Summit. As part of this, I shall encourage them to sign up the Charter and submit their own commitments. I shall embark on this with immediate effect and maintain my efforts on an ongoing basis. |
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Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England |
The Office of the Children’s Commissioner is committed to addressing forced marriage in our Child Sexual Abuse Inquiry, the objective of which is to end forced marriage in England. The deadline for this work is 2016. |
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Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland |
The Gender Equality Strategy 2006-2016 commits to promoting and protecting the rights of girls and boys and to eliminating gender based violence in society. We will take the following actions to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation and Child, Early and Forced Marriage in our society: – Recognise that domestic and sexual violence and abuse can manifest itself through the perpetration of unlawful activities and practices such as forced marriage and female genital mutilation. – Publish Multi-Agency Practice Guidelines on Female Genital Mutilation. – Develop a provision to criminalise forced marriage. |
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Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict |
The Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict will work with national governments, including heads of states, the judiciary, security forces, law-makers, as well as with civil society, religious and community leaders, women’s groups, youth activists, and survivors to bring an end to conflict-related forced marriage through our ongoing advocacy and capacity building efforts. |
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Olimatou Sissoho, GAMCOTRAP Youth Advocate |
Appeal on behalf of all girl-children of The Gambia who are vulnerable to Female Genital Mutilation and Early Marriage. We will call on our parents, communities and government to protect us from Female Genital Mutilation and early marriage. |
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OneWorld UK |
These commitments will be fulfilled by 2020. |
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Options Consultancy Services |
Options will integrate responses to FGM into our current and future programmes on sexual and reproductive health, and maternal, neonatal and child health. |
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Orchid Project |
Orchid Project will continue to work for a world free from female genital cutting: raising awareness about the scale and impact of FGC, communicating how it is ending and partnering to accelerate abandonment of the practice. Orchid Project will enhance communications and advocacy work on FGC in the Middle East and Asia to bring international attention to the issue of FGC outside of Africa. |
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Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) |
The OECD will work with member countries and partner governments in developing countries to contribute to the elimination of all norms and practices which discriminate against and violate the rights of women and girls, such as FGM and early and forced marriage. We will do this by providing a solid evidence base, notably by strengthening our measurements of discriminatory norms and practices and tracking donor financing in support of gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights. |
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Over 300 students in the Gambia |
Petition and a pledge signed during a conference organised by Nusrat High School. WE DON’T WANT FGM We promise to complete our education without any interruption. We will say no to early and forced marriage. We will report any sexual harrassment and exploitation to the appropriate authorities. Will report all unjust acts against girls. We will break the culture of silence. We will stand firmly and fight for our rights. We will support each other in terms of difficulties. We will respect and obey our parrents, teachers and our school authorities. We will obey and abide by the rules and regulations governing our schools. We will stand as a team to fight and eradicate maltreatments against girls. We will unite and work hand in glove to make sure we impact a positive change. So help us God. |
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Oxfam |
We will further integrate work on sexual and reproductive health rights within our My Rights My Voice programme, highlighting female genital mutilation (FGM) and child, early and forced marriage (CEFM), by increasing levels of rights awareness amongst youth and duty bearers and through our support to safe spaces for young people to discuss these issues with peers and allies. We will build on our existing work at country level in this area. In Yemen, Oxfam is working with local women’s organisations who continue to push for protection against CEFM in the constitution and in personal status law. In Yemen we will also continue to work with local women’s organisations to raise public awareness of the negative social and developmental impacts of CEFM. In the Philippines, through our support to national organisations, Oxfam will continue to work with local communities to address CEFM. We will share best practice on addressing CEFM and FGM in the new Oxfam knowledge hub on Violence Against Women. Addressing the broader gender injustice and inequality, which drives CEFM and FGM, is a key part of Oxfam’s work. For example, in Myanmar, Oxfam will continue to work with women’s networks to influence the drafting of the Ending Violence Against Women law, and will work to raise awareness on – and challenge – the structural inequalities facing women and girls. Oxfam has included the advancement of women’s rights as foundational within its new Strategic Plan, and committed to the first confederation-wide Roadmap on how to do this, including within our broader programmes and influencing work. This will be implemented over the next 6 years, with timebound commitments agreed for 2014-2016. We will continue to call for a strong stand-alone gender equality goal in the post-2015 framework and ensure this addresses violence against women and girls, including CEFM marriage and FGM, as a priority in Oxfam’s advocacy work. |
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Paul Ndebele, Director of the Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe |
I will talk about girl child issues in discussions with colleagues. I will also publish an article on research on girl child issues. |
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Plan International |
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Plan Netherlands |
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Population Council |
The Population Council commits to:
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Project ACEi |
I will continue to be the voice of survivors and I will continue to raise awareness on the issues of FGM that blighted my life. That passion has now led me to start an organisation called ProjectACEi. As a founder and a survivor I make the following commitments: ProjectACEiwill work to promote a strong sense of awareness, education and community engagement in tackling female genital mutilation (FGM) within affected communities in the UK and in Africa. We aim to safeguarding girls at risk, whilst promoting a safer well-being for women affected with FGM through support and advocacy. ProjectACEi will act, and is fully committed in empowering communities women, whilst helping to facilitate local capacity building through sharing of information and providing opportunities for front line professionals gain a greater understanding of the complications associated with FGM in supporting those living with FGM in the UK. We also advocate against all forms of gender violence through education and training programs. |
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Punjab Commission of the Status of Women, Pakistan |
Work to expedite law on child, early and forced marriage in Punjab, Pakistan. |
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REACH Programme, Uganda |
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Restless Development |
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Rev. Dr. Medad Birungi Zinomuhangi |
I pledge to bring awareness through education at all levels and to all ages. I hope to be an open and courageous activist against FGM and forced/early marriages and will include that point in every sermon I give. |
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Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists |
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Royal Commonwealth Society |
1.Following the Girl Summit, the RCS commits to continue to work to raise awareness in Commonwealth countries about the need to end child and forced marriage; to advocate to end child and forced marriage at key international meetings; and to facilitate shared learning within the Commonwealth on what works to end child and forced marriage 2.The RCS commits to framing the issues of child and forced marriage, and female genital mutilation / cutting, within the broader context of gender inequality in our research and advocacy work 3.The RCS commits to work with young people to facilitate greater action within youth networks to raise awareness of and challenge gender inequality, including child and forced marriage, female genital mutilation / cutting, and perceptions of masculinity and femininity 4.To enable this work, the RCS has dedicated further resources and funding to this area of our work over the next two years, with the support of the Government of Canada. |
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Rozaria Memorial Trust |
Work with girls in and out of school to spread the word that CEFM is anti-development and has to stop. |
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Sara Khan, Inspire UK |
I commit to challenging those who justify FGM and CEFM in the name of religion. Fight root cause – gender inequality. |
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Sausan Aminath, Maldives |
I pledge to go home and spread as much awareness about the issue as I can! “We will break the silence” |
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Save the Children |
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Savera |
Savera is already dedicated to tackling domestic abuse and one of its mean focus is tackling forced marriage and FGM within Merseyside and beyond. Savera has already committed to support Lil Yemen ( A campaign aimed to tackling Child Marriage and FGM) and together will be holding a day workshop for the community in Liverpool Research within the North West on Forced Marriage &Honour based violence in partnership with a number of universities across the North West Developing training package for Young People on these issues Working with Liverpool community Health (NHS) to deliver a conference highlighting the Harmful practice |
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Scottish Government |
To set up a Short Life Working Group to ensure a multi-agency approach in Scotland to tackling FGM that is able to meet the needs of victims, professionals, support agencies and organisations (including staff who work for them), and communities, in the elimination of the practice of FGM. We will review what we are currently doing in Scotland across different sectors in Scotland to tackle FGM and identify what more needs to be done in the elimination of the practice of FGM. The Scottish Government is committed to eradicating Forced Marriage and from 30 September 2014 forcing a person into marriage will be a criminal offence punishable by up to 7 years in prison. We will work with all our partners to develop guidance and information to advise those at risk of the additional protection available and to help those who work to protect victims of forced marriage sensitively and effectively. |
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Shingayirayi Moyo |
More information and education campaigns to raise awareness to the girl child and parents together with guardians that the girl child has more potential in life than just getting married. I will design a communication campaign in the community in which l live and work with the local media to spread the word to all corners of my country Zimbabwe |
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Sir William Cash MP |
Campaign for my Gender Equality Act 2014 to improve the lives of women throughout the world & to end FGM and CEFM. |
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South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children |
SAIEVAC will work with member states in SAARC ·for effective enactment, enforcement and use of national policy and legal instruments to increase the minimum age of marriage to 18; ·improve access to quality primary and secondary education; ·engage children and adults to change discriminatory gender norms; ·extend support for girls who are already married through health information and services and livelihood skills; sharing and replication of good practices among the member states through monitoring, reporting and evaluation of intervention to end child marriage.
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Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Violence against Children, Marta Santos Pais |
Within my mandate as global independent advocate against all forms of violence against children, I shall continue to give priority to the prevention and abandonment of child and forced marriage and of female genital mutilation. Building upon the research I have undertaken on children’s protection from harmful practices, I shall continue to promote advocacy and policy dialogue to assist States in the steps they need to take to fulfill their commitments. Acting as a bridge builder, I shall foster cooperation amongst the various stakeholders, mobilize and offer my support to governments, national institutions, ombuds offices, child-led and other civil society organisations, academia as well as to community and religious leaders to advance this agenda. I shall also invest in awareness raising, creating and using opportunities to convey the key messages of the Summit and maintain its momentum. I shall continue to advocate for the inclusion of violence against children in the post-2015 agenda as a distinct priority concern. |
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Stars Foundation, EMpower, Mama Cash and Plan International UK |
Collaboration to launch a global girls awards initiative, investing at least $1 million in grassroots organisations working with and for girls, including girl-led organisations, aiming to:
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Stephanie Tang, Shearman & Sterling |
I will kickstart awareness of child marriage and FGM at my firm and see to it that a Trust Law event will be held to put these issues on the pro bono agenda. |
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Sujag Sansar Organization (SSO) |
10 awareness theatre plays on the child and forced marriages. SSO will educate 1200 parents, religious leaders, and youth girls and boys in most remote areas with low and no literacy. Theatre is affective and interesting tool to convey information on child and forced marriages. |
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Tackling FGM Initiative |
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Tearfund |
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The Wellbeing Foundation |
A renewed focus on the importance of girls and the emancipation of girls, including the protection of girls from forced, early and child marriage (FECM) and female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), in The Wellbeing Foundation’s advocacy, communications, and policy reviews, in both fields of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) and ending domestic violence (EDV). |
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Theodora Anavhe Adamu Foundation (TAAF) |
Carry out school campaigns for awareness in Nigeria and also use the skills of a social documentary photographer for advocacy. By 31 March 2015. |
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Tostan |
Tostan commits to:
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Uganda Parliamentary Forum for Children |
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Uganda Youth Empowerment scheme |
Advocacy to stop FGM, Community sensitisation on the dangers of FGM and CEFM and Counselling affected communities. We the members of Uganda Youth Empowerment scheme, we commit ourselves and the organisation to contribute to the reduction of FGM and CEFM by carrying out the mentioned actions. We are to train peers as advocates to fight FGM and CEFM in Uganda. |
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Umme Salma, Gender Advisor |
I’m influencing analysis and design of NGO development programs and research to address child marriage through all sectors including health, education, and child protection in Bangladesh. Iwill join networks like Girls not Brides and summits like Girl Summit in upcoming events. At a personal level, I shall protest against any occurrence of child marriage and its factors like social insecurity, dowry. |
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UNDP |
We, the United Nations Development Programme, support the efforts of national partners to develop and implement the required legal and policy frameworks to combat all forms of sexual and gender-based violence. We use our convening power as the UN’s lead development organization to advocate for gender equality, women’s empowerment and the rights of women and girls, including through public awareness and community mobilization campaigns on the prevention of and response to sexual and gender-based violence. Addressing FGM and child early and forced marriage are integral aspects of this work. Eliminating FGM and CEFM are vital to the achievement of gender equality and human development. |
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UNESCO |
UNESCO will work with governments, non-governmental and civil society groups, community leaders and parents to keep and bring back girls to school through secondary by intensifying high-level policy advocacy and dialogues; reinforcing normative and standard-setting actions; and increasing provision of technical assistance to Member States to promote gender-responsive and gender transformative teacher training and practices, to develop curricula, textbooks and media contents that combat stereotypes and to equip them with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to take full charge of their social, economic and political lives. |
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UNFPA |
In line with its 2014-2017 Strategic Plan[1], UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is committed to ending the harmful practices of Child, Early and Forced Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation. We join hands with governments, civil society, the private sector, and other constituencies to:
UNFPA strives to ensure the sexual and reproductive health and rights of everyone, and is unequivocally dedicated to promoting and protecting the rights, and well-being of girls everywhere. [1][1] Output 8, Indicator 8.1: Number of countries that have health, social and economic asset-building programmes that reach out to adolescent girls at risk of child marriage Output 10, Indicator 10.3: Number of communities supported by UNFPA that declare the abandonment of female genital mutilation/cutting [2][2] CEFM programme countries include: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Guatemala, India, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia [3][3] FGM/C progamme countries include: Burkina Faso, Djibouti Ethiopia, Eritrea, Egypt, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, Yemen. |
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UNICEF |
UNICEF will work with national governments and other partners to end FGM/C and child marriage by: Getting girls into school, and keeping them there, by:
Helping mobilize action by young people, families, communities, and civil society groups to end FGM/C and child marriage by:
Investing in programmes and services that address FGM/C and child marriage, by:
Generating and using data to break the silence, track progress and inform action, by:
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Vision for Culture, Learning and Peace |
Together for ending child marriage and FGM in Sudan We will work to empower girls through education, changing negative community concepts, providing child protection from FGM and child marriage, and advocacy to change personal status law in accordance with international conventions. |
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Vital Voices Global Partnership |
Vital Voices commits to utilizing the Gender-Based Violence Response Initiative to provide emergency assistance to survivors of extreme forms of gender based violence and harmful tradition al practices, specifically including forced/early marriage and female genital mutilation/cutting. Funding can be provided to survivors for expenses that include, but are not limited to, medical expenses, psychosocial support or counselling, emergency shelter or other safe accommodation, relocation expenses, livelihood and dependent support (including foster care and other forms of child care), and legal assistance. By September 30, 2015, the GBV Response Initiative aims to support at least 50 survivors through this program. |
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Wallace Global Fund |
Beginning with the pioneering advocacy advanced by the Fund’s co-founder, Gordon Wallace, the Wallace Global Fund is deeply committed to promoting the global abandonment of FGM/C. Through its grantmaking and convenings, the Fund will accelerate its efforts to elevate FGM/C on the U.S. and global policy agendas, catalyze grassroots action, galvanize media attention, empower FGM/C advocates and survivors, and mobilize resources in support of community-led processes of social change. The Fund co-founded the Donors Working Group on FGM/C and will continue to regularly convene FGM/C donors, researchers, and advocates in Washington, DC. |
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Welsh Government |
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Women and Law in Southern Africa Research and Education Trust (WLSA) |
Strengthening the voice and rights of women and girls in WLSA countries to contribute to the effective fight against FGM and CEFM. The activities are designed to create opportunities for girls and women to participate in and influence households, communities and national decisions. Women and girls will have a proper understanding of their rights and access to means of enforcing these rights so that they can challenge these unjust legal and cultural policies and practices.
These actions will be completed by 2017. |
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Women Deliver |
Women Deliver will enhance its advocacy for an end to FGM and CEFM, and for broader investments in the health, rights, and well-being of girls and women. We commit to:
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World Health Organisation |
We will: |
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World Shine Ministries |
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World Vision |
World Vision, a global partnership working in nearly 100 countries, commits to do all we can to protect children from the extreme harm of child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) and female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). We will make every effort to:
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Yanga Jacob Lagu |
I, Yanga Jacob Lagu, commit to mobilising the diaspora community in standing up against forced and early child marriage in South Sudan. It is achievable!! |