Massawa, 04 April 2026 – A conference focusing on ensuring the rights of women and children, as well as the eradication of harmful practices in general, and underage marriage and female genital mutilation in particular, was conducted in the port city of Massawa from 30 March to 3 April.
At the conference, which was organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare branch and the committee overseeing the rights of women and children, it was reported that encouraging results have been registered in some villages in the Massawa sub-zone.
Noting the physical and psychological negative consequences of harmful practices, Mr. Ismail Osman, acting head of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare branch in the sub-zone, said that strong efforts have been exerted in collaboration with partners to eradicate harmful practices. He also said that, since the sub-zone has a comparative advantage in terms of village regrouping, harmful practices could be eradicated more easily through strong effort.
Mr. Haile Asfaha, administrator of the sub-zone, noting that harmful practices indicate a low level of public awareness, called for coordinated awareness-raising activities aimed at enhancing public understanding and participation in the eradication of the practices.
The participants conducted extensive discussion on the issues raised at the conference and expressed readiness to strengthen participation in the eradication of harmful practices.
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