By: Henrietta Afful
The leaders of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO) have united in a call for urgent action to eradicate the harmful practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which currently affects over 230 million girls and women globally..
In a joint statement released to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, Dr. Natalia Kanem of the UNFPA, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, and WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the severe physical, emotional, and psychological impact of FGM.
The statement emphasizes that FGM is not only a profound physical violation but also leaves lasting emotional and psychological scars on girls and women.
The leaders therefore called for immediate and comprehensive action to prevent an estimated 27 million more girls from enduring this harmful practice by 2030.
The joint statement comes as part of the theme to mark, International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, “Stepping up the pace: Strengthening alliances and building movements to end female genital mutilation.”
The organizations highlighted significant progress, citing successes in countries like Kenya and Uganda where community-led initiatives are showing that change is possible through collaboration.
Since the launch of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of FGM in 2008, nearly 7 million girls and women have accessed prevention and protection services, and 48 million people have publicly pledged to abandon the practice.
Mass media campaigns have reached 220 million individuals, raising widespread awareness of the issue. Over the past two years, nearly 12,000 grassroots organizations and 112,000 community and frontline workers have been mobilized to drive change, making significant strides at this critical juncture in the fight to eliminate FGM.
Despite this progress, challenges remain. The Gambia’s recent attempts to repeal its ban on FGM have raised concerns about setbacks in the fight to protect girls and women. Such efforts, the organizations warn, could undo decades of progress in changing attitudes and community mobilization.
Currently, of the 31 countries with national data on FGM prevalence, only seven are on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of ending FGM by 2030. The statement stresses the urgency of accelerating efforts to achieve this target.
To meet this goal, the statement called for strengthened alliances between governments, grassroots organizations, and sectors such as health, education, and social protection. It also demands increased accountability, greater investment in effective interventions, and sustained advocacy, with a focus on empowering girls and survivors.
The statement appealed to all to play their part in protecting girls from harm, stating: “The time to end female genital mutilation is now.”
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is observed annually on February 6 to raise awareness about the devastating effects of FGM and its continued impact on the lives of millions of women and girls around the world.
The day also underscores the urgent need for stronger collaboration and unified efforts to eliminate this harmful practice.
This year’s theme, “Stepping Up the Pace: Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End Female Genital Mutilation,” highlights the critical need to accelerate progress and strengthen global commitments to end FGM.
