SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED: COMMUNITY AWARENESS-RAISING CAMPAIGN ON ENDING FGM AND CHILD MARRIAGE

Addis Ketema Senior Secondary School, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 17 October 2026

The Network of Ethiopian Women’s Associations (NEWA), in partnership with UNICEF, successfully hosted a city-wide Community Awareness-Raising Campaign focused on ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Child Marriage (CM). The event convened over 250 key stakeholders representing all sub-cities across Addis Ababa.

Diverse Stakeholder Representation: The campaign brought together a broad coalition of community leaders and institutions, including:

Government representatives and civil society organizations (CSOs)

Women-led organizations and former women firewood carriers’ associations; Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), Iddirs, and Elders’ Associations, School administrations, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), student/teacher associations, and Girls’ Clubs.

Panel Discussion: Sustaining Efforts to End FGM and Child Marriage. A central feature of the campaign was an interactive panel discussion that actively engaged representatives from across the participating groups. Panelists and audience members explored practical, community-led strategies to sustain momentum and drive long-term behavioral change beyond initial awareness efforts.

Key themes included:

Community Ownership: Strengthening grassroots leadership and engaging traditional and religious leaders as advocates for change.

Empowerment & Education: Advancing girls’ education and challenging deeply entrenched social norms that undermine women’s rights.

Multi-Sectoral Collaboration: Enhancing coordination among government institutions, schools, civil society, and traditional community structures.

The discussion highlighted the alignment of these local efforts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—specifically SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Drama & Music: Inspiring Change Through Art. The event integrated creative drama and music performances designed to convey the physical, psychological, and social impacts of FGM and child marriage. Through culturally relevant storytelling and artistic expression, the performances prompted reflection on harmful practices while reinforcing the shared responsibility of families and communities to protect young girls.

By combining artistic expression with structured dialogue, the campaign fostered an environment of open reflection and commitment to action.

Our Shared Commitment Every girl deserves to grow up free from violence, exploitation, and harmful practices.

End FGM!

Stop Child Marriage!

Ending FGM and child marriage requires continuous commitment, strategic partnerships, and collective responsibility. Together, we are building a future where every girl can realize her rights, dignity, health, and full potential.

Empowering Communities. Transforming Futures.