This year, close to 4.3 million girls will be at risk of being subjected to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
This is according to Antonio Guterres, Secretary General to the United Nations.
Guterres describes the cultural practice that is widely practiced worldwide as an abhorrent human rights violation.
As the world commemorates International Day for Zero Tolerance of Female Genital Mutilation, he called for collaboration in the fight to end FGM.
"I call on everyone, including men and boys, to join me in speaking out and stepping forward to end FGM, once and for all," he said.
The theme of this year's celebration is partnering with men and boys to transform social and gender norms to end FGM.
The Kenya Anti-FGM Board said involving men will help fight FGM.
"In most practicing communities, FGM is done to benefit men. However, it causes harm to women and girls, therefore, men must take a stand against FGM," the Board said.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Kenya said that more than 3157 networks for men and boys have advocated ending FGM in the last five years.
The prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation in Kenya has gone down to 15 per cent from 38 per cent back in 1998, according to the Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) of 2022.
To make it go down further, men and boys are encouraged to report incidences of FGM to the authorities and stand in support of their sisters and daughters against the harmful practice.
The State Department of Gender also encourages men to speak up against harmful social norms and raise awareness about FGM online and offline.
"Also, foster a safe environment for women and girls," the Department said.
