Sonke is hosting a side- event at HLPF2025 on the theme, Fighting Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) in the East African Community: Lessons from Uganda, Kenya and the East African Legislative Assembly. This event will take place on 16 July 2025 from 10:00 – 12:00pm at Westin New York Grand Central 212 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017, United States. Join us as we unpack this journey on ending FGM , advocating for the rights of women and girls and advancing gender equality in communities.
This event aims to showcase progress, share lessons and motivate policy and legislative change towards eradicating female genital mutilation and contribute towards SDG5.
Objectives of the side event
- To highlight progress made over the past 30 years in reducing the prevalence of FGM in Uganda and the EAC, demonstrating the collective impact of policies, programs, and community-based initiatives
- To showcase best practices Uganda Governments and Civil Society Organizations have utilised in their efforts to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
- To highlight the role of youth, women, and community leaders in driving change and being at the forefront of efforts to end FGM in EAC.
- To raise awareness and mobilize support for continued action and resource mobilization to ensure that FGM is eradicated, and the rights of girls and women are fully protected in the EAC.
By the end of the session, we hope to raise awareness on ending FGM, share good practices, increase efforts on ending FGM while reinforcing international cooperation and policies on advancing human rights
This year, the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development is convened under the theme : “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind” from 14th to 23rd July under the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Join other side events at the HLPF2025 to contribute to insightful conversations on fostering a just and fair world by scanning the QR code on the poster. You also have an opportunity to contribute on the SDGs in Practice platforms. 
Reviews at the HLPF2025 will centre on SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls; SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development; and SDG 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.