Description
Djibouti –
October 10, 2025
The launch
of the regional Shamekhat network of religious leaders was announced in the
Djiboutian capital during a regional workshop for religious leaders organized
by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowments in Djibouti in collaboration
with the Regional Office for Arab States of the United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA) and in partnership with Al-Azhar Al-Sharif.
Delegations
from several Arab countries, including Sudan, Djibouti, Egypt, Yemen, and
Somalia, discussed women's and children's issues in the region and officially
announced the launch of the Shamekhat network, which aims to build a unified
vision to combat harmful practices targeting women and children, based on
values and principles that promote dignity and protect human rights.
At the conclusion
of the workshop, participants emphasized the importance of the active
participation of men, especially religious leaders, in combating female genital
mutilation and harmful traditional practices, stressing that achieving
sustainable change requires a genuine partnership between men and women to
raise awareness and protect girls from all forms of violence and discrimination.
To end FGM : Arab boys and men speak out
