Norway strengthens commitment with UNFPA to end female genital mutilation

NEW YORK, United Nations – The Government of Norway, through the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), has contributed NOK66.82 million (US$6.04 million) to the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation. Norway is also adding $56 million in core resources to UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, for 2024. The new funding reflects Norway’s commitment to solidarity and multilateralism, underscoring its dedication to protecting women and girls everywhere. 

Every year, approximately 2 million girls are subjected to female genital mutilation before they reach the age of 5. Globally, an estimated 230 million women and girls have undergone this harmful practice. In 2024 alone, nearly 4.4 million girls — equivalent to 12,000 each day — were estimated to be at risk. 

The Joint Programme continues to make significant progress, even in the face of financial constraints. In 2023, the programme protected over 162,000 young girls from female genital mutilation through community-level monitoring systems, and nearly 1 million women and girls received prevention and protection services. Around 1.3 million people made public declarations to abandon the practice. 

In 2024, Norway made its first multi-year commitment to the Joint Programme. This long-term commitment not only enhances its ability to scale up activities but also ensures greater predictability in addressing female genital mutilation. The timing of this contribution is crucial, as hard-won gains against this harmful practice are in critical danger of being reversed.

Survivors and activists against female genital mutilation like Hawa Kamil continue to tell their stories in the hopes of inspiring action. During a recent trip to Djibouti, Ms. Kamil shared: "I still see the knife, the lady who held me down." The physical and psychological scars of female genital mutilation have shaped her life, leaving her with deep-seated fear, anger that she shaped into a strong will to end this practice.

Yet through her advocacy with the Elle&Elles network, a grassroots organization encouraging youth participation in the movement to end female genital mutilation in Djibouti, she has found hope. As part of her work, Ms. Kamil goes door-to-door for awareness campaigns, educates youth and has even persuaded own family members to abandon the practice."I am informed, and I inform others," she said. 

With Norad’s contribution, the Joint Programme can support the work of advocacy organizations like Elle&Elles and thousands of survivors-turned-champions like Ms. Kamil in educating their communities about the risks of female genital mutilation and its harmful legacy. 

It is estimated that $2.75 billion is still needed to eliminate female genital mutilation by 2030. Moreover, the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme has a funding gap of $12 million to fully realize its interventions or 2025. The international community must remain steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that all girls and women can live free from violence. 

The Government of Norway is the top donor to UNFPA’s core resources, having contributed $57 million in 2024. This flexible funding is vital for UNFPA’s ability to respond swiftly to emerging crises and deliver long-term results for women and girls around the world. As the world faces unpredictability, Norway’s dedicated support is vital to accelerate progress and deliver impacts for the women and girls we serve.