Save the Children, along with 13 other organizations including the UN in Ethiopia, civil society organizations (CSOs), have been awarded an certificate of recognition for their relentless efforts in combating early child marriage as well as ending female genital mutilation in Ethiopia. The award ceremony, organized at national level, was held in Addis Ababa on 21 August and was hosted by the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs (MoWSA) of Ethiopia.

Recipient organizations were recognized for their exceptional contributions to the prevention of harmful traditional practices specifically, female genital mutilation (FGM) and child, early, and forced marriage (CEFM). Save the Children is a founding member of the steering committee for the national alliance to end FGM and child marriage in Ethiopia. Collectivelly, the national alliance was awarded for its outstanding contributions to both raising awareness, and forging solutions for ending FGM, CEFM and other issues since its establishment in 2013. Additionally, the alliance aslo strhengthens coordinated prevention and responses to FGM and CEFM through providing technical and financial supoprt.

In addition to remarks delivered at the ceremony, two short documentaries portrayed the historical backrground of the alliance, and its on-going efforts. First hand accounts from survivors of FGM and forced child marriage were also presented to the audience as a marker of how coordinated interventions amongst government sectors, school clubs, religious leaders and other relevant actors can help save lives.

Save the Children participated in an exhibition where alliance members showcased select projects on FGM, CEFM, gender-based violence (GBV) and other issues. Save the Children’s exhibition included guidelines, case stories and summaries of evaluation results mainly from its projects linked to the Irish Aid Gender Equality, Norad-Joint Program and SC-Italy Child Protection and ECCE projects in South Omo.

Participants included senior officials and representatives from the Ethiopian parliaement, the Ministry and Regional Bureaus of Women and Social Affairs, UN agencies, funds and programmes as well as local and international CSOs. There were representatives from the children’s parliament of Ethiopia, faith-based organizations and clan leaders.