Mali man champions end to FGM within his community
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Sidi Haidara, a community leader in central Mali, now travels across villages advocating against female genital mutilation (FGM) after previously defending it as a cultural tradition.
For years, Haidara believed FGM was a practice to be preserved, common in a country where approximately nine of ten women and girls experience it. However, participation in training sessions organized by UN Women and funded by Germany changed his perspective.
Haidara began to question his beliefs, learning about the harmful physical, psychological, and social consequences of FGM. He now facilitates community dialogues in Mopti, Mali, encouraging families to prioritize girls’ rights and abandon the practice. Instead of issuing directives, he prompts conversations about protecting girls and challenging existing beliefs. This work is part of a larger movement in the Mopti and Gao regions of Mali.
UN Women supports local leaders, women, and men like Haidara in implementing community-driven initiatives that address gender-based violence and harmful social norms. To date, these efforts have established 50 community initiatives and eight dialogue platforms. Haidara believes protecting girls is an investment in the entire community’s future, and that change occurs gradually through conversation and community ownership.
