NAIROBI, Kenya, 30 October 2014 — The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon today launched the Global Media Campaign against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The campaign recognizes the critical role of the media around the world in adding its voice and reach to help end FGM.
Addressing guests at the launch, the Secretary-General commended the Guardian Newspapers for their initiative and commitment to bringing an end to FGM in the United Kingdom, United States, the Gambia and Kenya.
“Change can happen through sustained media attention on the damaging public health consequences of FGM, as well as on the abuse of the rights of hundreds of thousands of women and girls around the world,” Mr. Ban said.
The Secretary-General announced the launch of two initiatives to help support media outlets in Kenya and across the continent. A new joint UNFPA-Guardian International FGM Reporting Award will be granted annually to an African reporter who has demonstrated innovation and commitment in covering FGM.
The competition winner – who will have submitted reportage on FGM – will spend two months training and working in the Guardian’s head offices in London. In Kenya, five joint UNFPA-Guardian FGM Reporting Grants will be awarded to a number of the country’s leading media houses to help support their reporting on FGM.
In her remarks, the Kenya Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning, Anne Waiguru, under whose ministry the Anti-FGM Board is positioned, reiterated the Government’s commitment and willingness to end FGM by working with various partners.
The Guardian Newspapers' Maggie O’Kane explained how the campaign was aimed at ending FGM by using the media to expose the negative impact of this malpractice.
The Chairperson of the Media Owners’ Association and Chief Executive Officer of the Standard Media Group, Sam Shollei, pledged media support in Kenya to fight against FGM and to step up efforts to bring the practice to an end.
The Founder of Kakenya Centre of Excellence, Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya, added her voice by imploring the media to utilize its power and give the campaign to end FGM the publicity it deserves.
The Global Media Campaign against FGM is a partnership between UNFPA and the Guardian newspapers to garner sustained public support for the initiative.
- UNIC, with additional information from UNFPA
