16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence 2018

From November 25 to December 10, 2018, USAID joins the international community for the global campaign

Join us as we advocate globally to prevent and respond to end gender-base violence as well as highlight partnerships for impact across sub-Saharan Africa.

The prevalence of Gender Based Violence (GBV) is extremely high in Guinea with 9 in 10 women (91.8%) having undergone female genital mutilation (FGM), the practice involving removing all or part of a girl or women’s external genitalia including the clitoris. The most common form of GBV, and 1 in 2 women (63%) being victims of domestic violence. Only 1 in 4 victims report acts of violence made towards them and out of those who reported, only 4-5% received a response. A concerted effort between GBV stakeholders is necessary to end this phenomenon that continues to afflict too many girls, women and men. USAID partner UNICEF, the UN children’s agency, estimates that 200 million women and girls have undergone FGM worldwide - mostly in parts of Africa and the Middle East. Most recently, rates of female genital mutilation (FGM) have fallen dramatically among girls in Africa in the last two decades, using data from 29 countries the biggest fall in cutting was in East Africa.