Violence against women and girls remains one of the most serious threats to their health and safety in the world; and the situation is critical in Somaliland, where women and girls are at higher risk of rape, early and forced marriage, and FGM.

Despite being internationally recognized as a human rights violation, it is estimated that almost 99% of girls and women aged 15 to 49 in Somaliland have been subjected to the harmful practice. Sadly, there is an alarming trend of the medicalization of FGM, where the procedure is carried out by medical personnel observed the EU in a statement during the launch.

"We have established an inter-Ministerial task force to finalize the long-standing anti-FGM policy, we already started to engage with civil society organizations and government line ministries to support the approval of the zero-tolerance anti-FGM policy,” H.E Mustafe Mohamoud Ali, Minister, Ministry of Employment, Social Affairs and Family observed during the function

At the national level, the projects are aligned with the priorities of the Somaliland National Development Plan and will build on communities’ increased awareness of the need to end sexual and gender-based violence, and adopting a zero-tolerance approach to female genital mutilation.

In addition to this, European Union is supporting other development projects, among them Berbera Beach Development project and Somaliland elections which EU donated cars which will be used by election security risk assessment teams to meet with police and local communities in six regions and to monitor local election preparations and voting. The remaining cars will be used by justice officials to facilitate monitoring visits to regional courts and units dedicated to women and children, where female prosecutors assist those who report abuse. This was confirmed by Nicolas Berlanga Martinez, the EU Ambassador. Going to cement the commitment of the EU in the country.