Gender-based violence (GBV) often referred to as “violence against women” is considered as 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, seeks to strengthen the multi-sectoral approach (MSA) towards ensuring enforcement of global and regional accountability mechanisms on ending FGM, both at a national and regional level. 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 different countries of Africa, was realized with the purpose to produce a report, analyzing the experiences of different African countries in using the MSA, that can serve as good practice and learning for efforts to address harmful practices, particularly FGM.
