Djibouti has taken a significant step in its determined fight against female genital mutilation (FGM) with the appointment of Ms. Mouna Osman Aden, the Minister for Women and Family Affairs, to the steering committee of the global program for the eradication of FGM. This announcement, made on Thursday, April 24th, during the committee’s first videoconference meeting of 2025, underscores the international recognition of the considerable efforts undertaken by the Horn of Africa nation in this important area.
Expressing her gratitude following her co-option, Ms. Mouna Osman Aden stated her pride in joining this leading governing body. She sees it as recognition of Djibouti’s sustained efforts to combat the prevalence of this devastating scourge that FGM represents. This appointment places Djibouti at the heart of the global strategy aimed at ending this harmful practice, a program jointly led by the UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) and UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund).
The Minister emphasized the driving role of the Djiboutian Head of State in mobilizing public authorities against FGM. She also highlighted the decisive action of the First Lady and President of the Union of Djiboutian Women, Ms. Kadra Mahamoud Haid, whose commitment at the national and regional levels is exemplary. Ms. Aden specifically recalled the First Lady’s high patronage during the high-level meeting of 2014, marking the launch of phase 2 of the joint program with the ambitious goal of reducing the number of FGM cases by 40% between 2014 and 2018.
Highlighting the tangible results achieved by Djibouti in the fight against FGM, the Minister emphasized the unwavering commitment of the country, both at the institutional and associative levels, to achieve zero tolerance for this violation of human rights. She also expressed Djibouti’s willingness to actively collaborate with other member nations of the global program, sharing its positive experiences and learning from international best practices.
It is important to note that the steering committee, within the governance structure of the Joint Program for Phase IV (2022-2030), plays a vital role in the overall supervision of the program’s management and operation. This committee will facilitate effective collaboration between participating United Nations agencies and donors, ensuring a coherent and impactful implementation of the program. Its responsibilities include reviewing and approving key program documents, monitoring and evaluating progress, analyzing financial reports, and following up on the implementation of recommendations from evaluations.
The next meeting of the steering committee is scheduled to take place in person next September, offering a further opportunity to strengthen coordination and accelerate global efforts for the eradication of female genital mutilation. Djibouti’s appointment to this committee demonstrates its continued commitment and growing leadership in the protection of the rights of women and girls.