two weeks activism on violence against women also takes place yearly. To sensitize girls in schools and combat early marriage, 74 gender committees have been established in junior and senior secondary schools. The schools which have a history of high girls drop out are taken as the immediate priorities. Members of the committees in each school include students (both boys and girls), school director, sub regional administrator, and NUEW representative. This is an innovative pilot project to fight under age marriage and ensure girl‟s education and is registering tangible outcome even in some traditionally sensitive religious communities of the society. 316. Significant transformation has also taken place in the last two years to expand and strengthen the function of FGM/C Committees. Each committee at local level has been able to form groups of small people form the community at a cascade mode and the expanded mobilization of entire communities for action is already becoming a reality. It is to be noted that there are 4,534 committee members at all levels and 2,907 (64.12%) of these are male. A significant development in the last two years is that the committees which started as per the anti FGM/C Proclamation have now been transformed to include early marriage issues and the task is integrated into the already ongoing movement 317. Presently the struggle has developed into a grassroots movement against FGM/C and early marriage. The fact that some of these are very traditional communities mostly inhabited by nomads and semi pastoralists indicates to the growing success. Furthermore, the ongoing movement has asserted that these practices are not part of religion but rather cultural practices that have to be avoided. The following progress denoted the situation;-  The meeting of religious leaders in the Central Region on November 20, 2016 resulting in a declaration that condemns the practice of FGM and early marriage is a significant development. The declaration among others includes the following: The age limit in religious matrimonies shall be 18, in accordance to the civil law, and that the bride and groom should submit their Eritrean ID cards and other relevant documents to prove their right age.  This will immediately be implemented by both Christian and Moslem institutions in Eritrea. Any violations should be notified to the religious leaders.  Effort will be made to expand this effort in all other regions.  On the other hand a similar movement has led to the total mobilization of another region (Anseba Region). It started at grassroots levels in two sub regions with the active role of junior and secondary school students and religious leaders and elders and declaration also has been issued in the meeting conducted at region level to ban the practices and follow up mechanisms have been devised. In general zero FGM in a short time in particular in Habero and Asmath sub regions have also has been declared. A similar Page 80 of 100