FGM and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) remain serious concerns in Nigeria, where UNICEF estimates that 19.9 million women have undergone FGM and 3 in 10 girls face sexual violence before age 18. In rural and religiously diverse communities, silence and stigma prevent open discussion. This project will organize inter-religious dialogue workshops with faith leaders, youth, and women to challenge harmful practices and create safe spaces for survivors to stop more girls from being harmed.
Nigeria has one of the highest rates of FGM worldwide, with nearly 20 million women affected. In addition, 30% of girls experience sexual violence before turning 18. These practices cause long-term trauma, physical harm, and loss of education. Silence within families, combined with cultural and religious justifications, allows harmful practices to continue. Many survivors have no safe platform to speak out, and community leaders lack the tools to challenge these issues.
The project will organize inter-religious dialogue workshops in target communities, bringing together Christian and Muslim faith leaders, youth, and women's groups. Sessions will focus on the health, legal, and social risks of FGM and SGBV, encouraging open discussion and collective action. Faith leaders will be trained as advocates for change within their congregations. Survivor voices will be included, helping to break the silence and build community-driven rejection of these harmful practices
By equipping faith leaders and communities with accurate knowledge and dialogue skills, this project will help shift harmful norms that sustain FGM and SGBV. Survivors will find safe spaces to speak and heal, while families gain alternatives rooted in religious values of care and dignity. Over time, fewer girls will undergo FGM, and more survivors will seek help without fear of stigma. The long-term impact is stronger communities that protect children and women from harmful practices.
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