Global Leaders Unite In Kenya For Historic Convening To Help End FGM/C And Child Marriage

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Around 150 global leaders, including survivors of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and child marriage from 36 countries, will convene in Naivasha, Kenya, for the three-day Justice for Girls convening that kicks off on September 2nd, 2026. The international gathering will feature the launch of a catalytic new fund to resource the movement to end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and a movement-led five-year roadmap to accelerate efforts to end FGM/C worldwide.
US - 25 August, 2026 - Ahead of the major three-day gathering and festival in Naivasha, the three-part convening will begin on August 30 with Fashion for Change, a survivor- and African Queen-led runway event in Nairobi that will use fashion and storytelling to challenge the social norms that sustain FGM/C and center survivors as advocates, leaders and agents of change. Then on September 1, a high-level policy event in Nairobi will be co-hosted by the British High Commission and the Anti-FGM Board of Kenya, bringing together senior government representatives, diplomatic missions, multilateral organizations, funders, survivor leaders and civil society organizations. Discussions will focus on renewing political and financial commitments and strengthening collaboration across governments, communities and civil society.

The priorities and commitments that emerge from the Nairobi event will help shape the survivor- and community-led discussions that follow in Naivasha on September 2, where the convening will feature the launch of an unprecedented new pooled fund to support the global movement to end FGM/C and advance justice for girls. Seeded with a major commitment from Wallace Global Fund, a U.S.-based foundation that has supported work to end FGM/C for over 40 years, the catalytic fund seeks to raise $100 million to accelerate efforts to end FGM/C, particularly frontline and survivor-led work that has been chronically underfunded. Survivors and activists will shape the fund's strategic direction and grantmaking decisions. Media may access an embargoed press release with additional details on the fund and its launch here [https://justiceforgirls2026.org/news/] when the embargo lifts Wednesday, September 2 at 11:00 AM (EAT).

"A growing global movement is determined to end FGM/C and advance justice for girls. Unfortunately, funding is not keeping pace with the movement's tenacity, creativity, and resilience," said Susan Gibbs, Wallace Global Fund's senior advisor on women's rights and FGM. "Wallace Global Fund will be announcing the launch of an unprecedented, pooled fund in Naivasha that will back movement-led strategies and solutions. By following the lead of survivors and frontline leaders, we can drive toward a tipping point of ridding the world of FGM/C and we can prevent more girls from being harmed."

The Naivasha event will also feature the launch of "Unstoppable: Our Movement-led Collective Vision for Ending FGM/C," a five-year roadmap [https://docs.google.com/document/d/13avy0jy9nGxd6DZJQFCXCxtgr8Mk0VYjXMQOUR9M6mw/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.xvk0ym94bn4j] co-created by a diverse coalition of survivors, grassroots organizations, funders, and policymakers. Developed in the months leading up to the convening, this roadmap explicitly recognizes the connection between FGM/C and child marriage, setting shared priorities for survivor leadership, narrative change, and cross-movement collaboration.

The convening comes at a critical juncture for the global movement. One year after the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. foreign aid disbursements fell from $72 billion to $47 billion, while funding for thousands of development programs was cut. At the same time, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported that 20 of its 32 Development Assistance Committee members reduced funding for gender equality in 2021-2022, with further declines expected following major reductions by several donor governments.

Building on the legacy of the 2014 Girls Summit hosted by the UK government and UNICEF, the convening reflects a central lesson from the past decade: lasting progress depends on investing in the people leading change. Survivors and grassroots organizations will not simply attend - they will lead in shaping the agenda, priorities, and outcomes with support from coalitions such as the Global Platform for Action to End FGM/C and Girls Not Brides. Overall, this convening aims to strengthen partnerships and inspire renewed commitment to justice, protection, and freedom for women and girls worldwide.

Convening at a glance:

* What: Justice for Girls, a series of events culminating in a three-day global convening and festival focused on accelerating efforts to end FGM/C and child marriage within a generation.
* When: August 30-September 4, 2026
* Where: Nairobi and Naivasha, Kenya
* Who: Survivors, grassroots organizations, funders, policymakers, researchers, artists, advocates, community leaders, and other partners from around the world.
* Key Outcomes: Launch a new global pooled fund to advance justice for girls and a five-year roadmap to end FGM/C.

Three Events:

* Aug. 30: Fashion for Change Show. Held in Nairobi, the fashion show will bring art and creative expression into the event, using fashion as a platform to raise awareness and build momentum around efforts to end FGM/C and child marriage.
* Sept. 1: Justice for Girls High-Level Event. Hosted in Nairobi by the British High Commission, Anti-FGM Board of Kenya, Global Platform for Action to End FGM/C, and Wallace Global Fund, the high-level event will bring together key stakeholders to strengthen commitments to ending FGM/C and child marriage.
* Sept. 2-4: Justice for Girls: Ending FGM/C and Child Marriage in a Generation Global Convening and Festival. Held in Naivasha, the survivor- and community-led gathering will bring together participants from around the world for three days of advocacy, movement building, collaboration, storytelling, art, music, and healing-centered programming.

Voices From the Movement

"For too long, the conversations about ending FGM/C and child marriage have happened in rooms where the people most affected are rarely in the center. In Naivasha, we are changing that. This convening isn't just about resource mobilization; it's about finally creating a space where we don't have to explain our pain or justify our expertise. We are coming together to heal, to connect, and to rewrite the future of this movement on our own terms, with our own stories, and with the collective power of those who have lived this reality." - Mariya Taher, Co-founder & Executive Director, Sahiyo (based in the United States, South Asian background)

"For those of us who survived FGM/C and child marriage, this work is rooted in lived experience, memories, resilience and the determination to ensure no girl endures what we did. And because we have lived this reality, we also carry the knowledge of what truly drives change. We have seen mothers shift their beliefs, elders rethink traditions, and entire communities choose protection over harm. Progress is real, but it is fragile, and backsliding is already costing girls their futures. Survivor-led movements are holding the line with limited resources, yet still delivering impact. Imagine what we could accelerate with the support needed to match the scale of our commitment." - Fatou Baldeh MBE, CEO and Founder, Women in Liberation and Leadership (2025 TIME Women of the Year, Gambian background)

"Young people are not the leaders of tomorrow; we are leading today. Ending child marriage and FGM/C requires more than commitments; it requires meaningful investment in survivor and youth-led solutions. This convening is a powerful reminder that when young people, survivors, communities, and decision-makers work together as equal partners, we can transform systems, challenge harmful norms and build a future where every girl is free to choose her own path. Our voices, experiences, and leadership must not only be heard but trusted and resourced." - Gloriah Kagwe, Youth Advisory Panel, Girls Not Brides Kenya

"One of the biggest hurdles we face is funding, without which our ability to carry out community-based programmes is severely limited. When it comes to women's and children's rights, global funding structures have been lopsided for far too long, with survivor-led grassroots organisations in communities of colour getting the very short end of the stick. This is precisely the problem the Justice for Girls movement aims to address." - Aarefa Johari, Co-founder, Sahiyo (based in India, Indian background)

"Survivors should be recognized as experts, not simply pitied as victims or invited only to share painful stories. Many survivors are organisers, researchers, healthcare workers, lawyers, artists, religious leaders, and community educators. Their knowledge should shape movement priorities, funding decisions, research agendas, and policy conversations." - Saza Faradilla, Co-founder, End FGC Singapore (based in Thailand, Singaporean background)

"This convening provides a space where survivors do not have to explain themselves." - Dena Igusti, Survivor Expert Leader (based in the United States, Indonesian background)

Organizers hope the convening will leave behind lasting change - not only through a new funding initiative and five-year roadmap, but by strengthening the partnerships needed to end FGM/C and child marriage within a generation.

"Ultimately, I want this convening to be remembered as a turning point that accelerates collective action, shifts power to those most affected, and brings us closer to a world where every girl can live free from violence, discrimination, and harmful practices." - Isatou Jeng, Survivor Expert Leader (based in the United States, Gambian background)

For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact:

* General media inquiries: info@justiceforgirls2026.org
* Press contact: Kristel Mendoza Castillo / kristel@sahiyo.org

MEDIA RESOURCES: Journalists can access the full press kit here [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_6vh9JbeennHOz9wrKHBSv5rRsePBDLP?usp=drive_link], including key facts and statistics on FGM/C and child marriage, survivor and expert quotes [https://docs.google.com/document/d/11wQOFjv-xoN40E-aH1aAu4zPTtfspTao8t4knphA1dM/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.rfot0lrrkw1y], event details, photos [https://drive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/11Xpnc09QPWgcSZTDMknOqPvkCpU45Zqy] and additional background materials.

About Justice for Girls 2026

Justice for Girls is a global, survivor-led initiative working to end female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) and child marriage within a generation. It brings together survivors, grassroots activists, civil society organisations, policymakers and funders to strengthen collaboration, develop shared strategies and direct resources towards affected communities. Through its 2026 convening in Kenya and the Ending FGM/C Global Action Fund, it aims to support frontline organisations and accelerate lasting systemic change.
Media Contact
Company Name: Sahiyo
Contact Person: Media Contact
Email: Send Email [http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=global-leaders-unite-in-kenya-for-historic-convening-to-help-end-fgmc-and-child-marriage]
Country: United States
Website: http://sahiyo.org

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This release was published on openPR.