27 million more girls at risk of genital mutilation

An estimated 27 million more girls could face the violation of their rights and dignity by 2030 if female genital mutilation persists. This harmful practice affects more than 230 million girls and women today, according to the World Health Organisation in a new report.

Female genital mutilation is a violation of human rights that inflicts deep and lifelong physical, emotional, and psychological scars on girls and women, the organisation says.

To mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation and in response to the theme “Stepping up the pace: Strengthening alliances and building movements to end female genital mutilation”, UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO reaffirmed their commitment to work together with countries and communities to end this harmful practice.

Many countries have seen a decline in the prevalence of female genital mutilation, with progress recorded in countries like Kenya and Uganda, where collaborative action and community-led initiatives are accelerating change.

Since the launch of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation in 2008, and in collaboration with WHO, close to seven million girls and women have access to prevention and protection services.

Additionally, 48 million people have made public declarations to abandon the practice, and 220 million individuals were reached by mass media messaging on the issue, according to WHO.

In the last two years, close to 12, 000 grassroots organizations and 112 000 community and frontline workers galvanized to effect change at this critical juncture.

Yet the fragility of progress made has also become starkly evident.

In the Gambia, for example, attempts to repeal the ban on female genital mutilation persist, even after an initial proposal to do so was rejected by its parliament last year.

Such efforts could gravely undermine the rights, health and dignity of future generations of girls and women, jeopardizing the tireless work over decades to change attitudes and mobilize communities.

Of the 31 countries in which data on prevalence are collected nationally, only seven countries are on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of ending female genital mutilation by or before 2030. The current rate of progress must accelerate urgently to meet this target.

This requires strengthened alliances among leaders, grassroots organizations, and across sectors spanning health, education, and social protection – as well as sustained advocacy and expanded social movements with girls and survivors at the centre.

It demands greater accountability at all levels to ensure commitments to human rights are upheld and policies and strategies are implemented to protect girls at risk and provide care, including justice, for survivors. It also requires increased investment in scaling up proven interventions. We are indebted to generous donors and partners supporting this life-changing work and call on others to join them.