Female genital mutilation (FGM) remains a prevalent issue in many Somali communities worldwide, affecting a significant number of girls and women. According to reports, over 90 percent or more of girls and women from these communities have been subjected to FGM, devastatingly impacting their health and well-being. Despite efforts to combat the practice, FGM continues to persist in many regions, including Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia, and elsewhere.
Belt of Somali Women is a new platform, led by Somalis in the diaspora, that advocates for an end to violence against Somali women with a focus on ending female genital mutilation (FGM). The initiative aims to unite communities, survivors, civil society organizations, activists, stakeholders, role models, decision-makers, and experts in the fight against gender-based violence.