On the 09th November 2021 Tanzania launched its 1st Anti- Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Strategy in Dodoma Tanzania. The National Anti- Female Genital Mutilation and Implementation Plan (2020/21- 2021/25). The strategy was launched by Dr. John Jingu , the Permanent Secretary, Department of Community Development- Ministry of Health, Community Development, Elderly, Gender and Children. The strategy aims to eradicate FGM by the year 2024/25.
The launching event was attended by State actors, non- state actors including in school youths, teachers, ex-mutilators, and Law enforcement agencies, media houses, cultural leaders, CSOs and international donor agencies. During the occasion National Youth ambassadors were given the opportunity to address stakeholders. DSW Tanzania peer educator Senorina Frank addressed stakeholders on behalf of Adolescent Girls and Young Women and officially handed over the Anti- FGM Strategy to the Dr. John Jingu- Permanent secretary (Department of Community Development) of the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Elderly, Gender and Children.
The strategy reaffirms Tanzania’s commitment in the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and specifically SDG 5.3 by 2030, as well as the African Agenda 2063 and the implementation of the National Five-Year Development Plan II 2016/17 – 2020/21.
The Strategy has been formulated through the involvement of stakeholders from national to district levels. It provides clarity and guidance to Government and stakeholders at various levels in addressing FGM in the country. It is meant to mobilize and stimulate collective action, enhance institutional linkages and coordination to increase reach and scale-up of anti-FGM interventions from individuals, families, communities and Tanzania as a whole.
The Anti- FGM strategy has a six objectives that focus on; Increased number of girls and women who shun away from FGM, increased availability of support and services to victims of FGM, increased number of and support to families that refuse to subject girls to FGM, increase number of communities that denounce FGM, increased number of female genital mutilators who reject and abandon FGM Practices, enhanced performance of Anti- FGM stakeholders. The call for action from the permanent secretary- department of community development is that state and non-state actors should collectively come together and implement the initiatives in the strategy.
