Dr. Amr Hassan Honored for Advocacy Against Female Genital Mutilation

Dr. Amr Hassan Honored.

The National Committee for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has honored Professor Dr. Amr Hassan Hussein, a leading expert in obstetrics and gynecology at Cairo University and member of the World Health Organization’s technical advisory group on maternal mortality estimation, during its eleventh meeting. This recognition acknowledges his extensive contributions to the national efforts aimed at eradicating FGM and safeguarding the health and rights of girls and women.

Dr. Hassan received his award from Dr. Sahar Al-Sunbaty, President of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, and Counselor Amal Ammar, President of the National Council for Women. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Major General Akram El-Gohary, head of the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics; Dr. Osama Abdel Hai, head of the Doctors’ Syndicate; Natalia Winder Rossi, UNICEF Representative in Egypt; and Germain Haddad, Acting Representative of UNFPA in Egypt, along with numerous national and international leaders and experts focused on issues related to girl protection and women’s health.

This honor is a testament to Dr. Hassan’s years-long commitment to raising awareness about the health risks and human rights violations associated with FGM. His work focuses on combating the medicalization of FGM within healthcare settings through community education, training, and capacity building for healthcare providers.

Dr. Amr Hassan is recognized as one of Egypt’s foremost experts in maternal health, reproductive health, and health policy. Over more than two decades, he has played a pivotal role in developing and supporting numerous national policies and programs related to maternal health, reproductive health, and family planning. In 2026, he was appointed as a member of the WHO’s technical advisory group on maternal mortality estimation, joining a select group of international experts dedicated to enhancing maternal health globally.

The National Committee for the Elimination of FGM serves as Egypt’s primary mechanism for coordinating efforts to end this harmful practice. Established in May 2019 through a partnership between the National Council for Women and the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood following a directive from the Prime Minister, its goal is to unify national efforts and strengthen coordination among government agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners to eradicate FGM while protecting girls’ rights.

In response to his recognition, Dr. Amr Hassan expressed pride in receiving this honor and emphasized that eliminating FGM is a shared national responsibility that requires ongoing collaboration between governmental institutions, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and international entities to ensure the protection of girls’ health, dignity, and rights in Egypt.

This recognition coincides with Egypt’s observance of National Day for the Elimination of FGM, underscoring the importance of continuing national efforts to eradicate this harmful practice while promoting the health and rights of girls and women.