The UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation recognises Egypt’s pioneering leadership to eliminate the practice of female genital mutilation. As part of the global response, success is determined by political will, accountability (at national and sub-national levels) and creation of an enabling environment that engages and coordinates actions from stakeholders across all sectors and partners.

The launching of the National Committee under the leadership of the National Council for Women and the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, and its efforts to develop a costed national action plan is timely and essential in the realisation of SDG 5.3 and the African Union’s Transformative Agenda 2063 on the “The Africa We Want”. We commend Egypt’s Leadership at national, regional and continental level within its Presidency of the African Union in 2019 to advance accelerated action on getting to zero female genital mutilation by 2030.