Fight against FGM/C summary
The practice of FGM/C is a deep-rooted harmful tradition which underlines gender inequality, representing an extreme form of gender discrimination. Medicalisation of FGM/C institutionalises and normalises it, making the process of complete abandonment more difficult. Empowering Children, Adolescents and Youth (CAY), with the support of their families and communities, enables them to take informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and to defend SRHR and girls’ rights, especially regarding harmful practices like FGM/C. The project duration will be two years (from 1 January 2021) and is implemented in Assiut by Plan International Egypt and the Assiut Childhood and Development Association (ACDA). Its strategies are 1) support positive sexuality education and dialogue; 2) strengthen the quality of SRHR services; 3) support girls and young women most at risk of FGM/C. In Egypt, around 70 – 80% of women under 19 have undergone Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C). According to the 2014 Survey of Young People in Egypt, the prevalence of FGM/C tends to be declining among younger generations of women (73.9% amongst females age 13-17 compared to 85.7% amongst those age 30-35). Although the practice is declining, more than half of girls under 14 are expected to undergo FGM/C in the coming years. Also a steady increase in % girls who are cut by a medical staff is seen. This medicalization of FGM/C in Egypt is one of the highest of all countries where FGM/C is practiced. Communities practice FGM/C in the belief that it will ensure a girl's proper upbringing, ensure daughters marriageability and preserve family honor. These are deep-rooted traditions which underline gender inequality and which represent an extreme form of gender discrimination.
Recently, the Ministry of Health and Population in Egypt, has directed more attention towards tackling the issue of medicalization of FGM/C, focusing mainly on the capacitation of medical doctors against the practice of FGM and raising their awareness on the relative legislation and penal code, creation of mechanisms for monitoring private clinics and identification of FGM cases, and enforcement of the legal penalty against medical doctors who performs FGM. Women in Egypt have enjoyed political support that resulted in positive results in terms of issuing legislations protecting women’s rights (e.g. criminalization of FGM, increase of legal age of marriage, sexual harassment law, ratification of CEDAW), however, law enforcement continues to be a challenge. 
Stopping the medicalization and a more structural and sustainable reduction in the prevalence of FGM requires a multifaceted intervention targeting medical personnel and the public. 
Parents, caregivers and other family members will be capacitated to provide informed and adequate guidance and support for their children’s SRHR and oppose HTPs.
Relevant government and local authorities will take action to promote SRHR through enhanced collaboration and media engagement.
Next to this creation of  a more conducive environment youth will be empowered to take informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and to defend SRHR and girls’ rights holding duty-bearers accountable. 
To achieve this girls, boys and youth have to embrace gender equality and gain capacity to challenge unequal power relations. Adolescent girls and boys will become active drivers of change in the community, promoting gender equality and social norm change and challenge sexist social norms and value girls equally than boys. In order to enable meaningful participation of youth, the project is also targeting community members and government stakeholders.