Tostan's Successes Included in Center for Global Development Report on Empowering Girls
Tostan's Successes Included in Center for Global Development
Report on Empowering Girls
In her keynote speech, Ambassador Verveer referenced Tostan's success in empowering women to lead their own development, which has led to over 4,000 communities declaring their abandonment of the harmful practices of
female
genital cutting (FGC)
and
child/forced marriage.
Additionally, Start with a Girl highlights Tostan for its innovative programs in the effort to eliminate FGC. The report reads:
Tostan, which deploys community-based approaches to reducing harmful traditional practices, is widely recognized because the work has been evaluated and expanded across several countries. In Senegal, Somalia, and elsewhere in the region, Tostan uses education and organizing to mobilize communities to make public declarations to cease FGC and child marriage, with demonstrated effect. Tostan's work in Senegal includes a basic education program for women on health, human rights, literacy, and problem-solving. As women learn about health and their rights, they focus on FGC and child marriage. They work toward organizing public declarations where men, women, religious leaders, and other stakeholders oppose harmful practices. The program has had a significant effect on community attitudes toward FGC, leading to a dramatic decrease in the number of parents who intend to have their daughters cut. Evaluation results also show positive impacts on child marriage.
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