Gender and trade

Female genital mutilation (FGM) refers to “all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.”1 While the exact number of girls and women worldwide who have undergone FGM remains unknown, at least 200 million girls and women have been cut in 31 countries with representative data on prevalence. FGM is a violation of girls’ and women’s human rights and is condemned by many international treaties and conventions, as well as by national legislation in many countries. Yet, where it is practised FGM is performed in line with tradition and social norms to ensure that girls are socially accepted and marriageable, and to uphold their status and honour and that of the entire family. UNICEF works with government and civil society partners towards the elimination of FGM in countries where it is still practised.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) refers to “all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.”1 While the exact number of girls and women worldwide who have undergone FGM remains unknown, at least 200 million girls and women have been cut in 31 countries with representative data on prevalence. FGM is a violation of girls’ and women’s human rights and is condemned by many international treaties and conventions, as well as by national legislation in many countries. Yet, where it is practised FGM is performed in line with tradition and social norms to ensure that girls are socially accepted and marriageable, and to uphold their status and honour and that of the entire family. UNICEF works with government and civil society partners towards the elimination of FGM in countries where it is still practised.

In the context of the COVID-19, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs ), in particular small businesses managed by women and youth were the most negatively impacted. In the framework of EBSOEMD Project, CAWTAR carried out this study to - Identify the challenges and mitigation measures needed to overcome the negative impact of the COVID-19 on entrepreneurs, especially women entrepreneurs, and the role of the Business support organizations (BSOs) to provide such measures. - Shed light on new potential opportunities created by the COVID-19 in terms of digital transformation and digitalization of the enterprises owned by women.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development puts the principles of equality and non-discrimination at its heart, with a commitment to leave no one behind and reach those furthest behind first. This foundational tenet of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development embodies a collective pledge by nations worldwide to ensure that all individuals flourish in a sustainable environment where their rights and welfare are secured. Centring children in our efforts to drive sustainable development is a human rights imperative with the power to break harmful cycles of poverty and continued rights violations. Because the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are interconnected and interdependent, achieving them creates a pathway to systemic, structural and long-term change for every child. Today, at the midpoint of this vision for a more equitable world for all, how successful have we been in bettering the lives of our most cherished asset – our children? What achievements can we celebrate, and which obstacles remain? What lies on the path ahead to ensure a brighter future for every child? How do we make this a turning point in our commitment to upholding children’s rights? To answer these questions, UNICEF examined the available data on the 48 child-related SDG indicators, which the agency regularly monitors. Organized around five domains of child well-being – Survive and Thrive, Learning, Protection from Harm, Safe and Clean Environment and Life Free of Poverty – these indicators capture the breadth of children’s lived experiences. When viewed together rather than as individual sectors, they provide a rich, nuanced picture of children’s lives that tell us which children are thriving and which children are being left behind.