Gender-based violence (GBV), often referred to as “violence against women”, is considered any harmful act that is perpetrated against a person’s will and that is based on socially ascribed (i.e. gender) differences between males and females. It can take many forms, such as physical, sexual, emotional, or economic violence, child marriage, and female genital mutilation (FGM).
Equality Now, in partnership with UNFPA, aims to strengthen the multi-sectoral approach (MSA) towards ensuring the enforcement of global and regional accountability mechanisms for ending FGM, both at the national and regional levels. This work is carried out within the framework of the Spotlight Initiative Africa regional programme and Phase III of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of FGM.
This desk review of the use of the MSA to address GBV, including FGM, in various African countries was conducted to produce a report analysing the experiences of these countries in using the MSA, which can serve as good practice and learning for efforts to address harmful practices, particularly FGM.
