Ministry of Gender Forms Steering Committee to Combat FGM in Pujehun District
With funding support from UNFPA, the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, through its Pujehun district office, established a new Steering Committee on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. The strategic body aims to strengthen and unify multi-stakeholder efforts to combat Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) across the district.
Speaking to local news outlets, Madam Florence Sandy, Assistant Director at the Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs in Pujehun District, explained that the initiative is part of broader ongoing efforts by the Ministry and its development partners to coordinate community structures and safeguard the rights and well-being of women and girls.
The newly formed committee establishes a broad coalition of local leadership and advocates. Its membership brings together key stakeholders, including representatives from government institutions, traditional authorities, women’s groups, civil society organizations, Mammy Queens, the Children's Forum Network, the Inter-Religious Council, and other local gender and child protection partners.
Emphasizing the vital need for unified action, Madam Sandy highlighted that collective involvement is essential to addressing the socio-cultural dynamics surrounding FGM in the region.
"The committee is expected to provide stronger coordination, advocacy, and community engagement in the fight against the practice," Sandy stated.
She noted that key priorities will include supporting awareness-raising activities, fostering open dialogue within communities, strengthening survivor referral mechanisms, and promoting human rights and health protection for girls.
Welcoming the initiative, Madam Mamawa Kaikai, the District Mammy Queen, expressed her firm commitment to working collaboratively to eliminate FGM in Pujehun. She stressed the importance of continuous dialogue with traditional leaders, parents, youth, and community influencers to foster positive behavioral change.
By unifying diverse local leadership under a coordinated framework, the committee hopes to accelerate progress toward ending harmful traditional practices and ensuring greater protection for vulnerable girls across the district's chiefdoms.
In a closing call to action, the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs urged all community members, civic leaders, and partner organizations to actively support the committee’s work in creating a safer environment where women and girls can live free from harm.
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