The United Nations recognizes Feb. 6 as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. First recognized in 2012, this day is intended to enhance awareness-raising campaigns and to take concrete action against female genital mutilation (FGM). With this year marking the international day’s 10th anniversary, what progress has been made to stop FGM, and what can you do to recognize this initiative?
The World Health Organization recognizes female genital mutilation (FGM) as any procedure that involves the partial or total removal of the external genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. The procedure typically occurs in girls between infancy and age 15, with the average age of those affected between seven and 10 years old. Although FGM is primarily practiced in Africa and Western Asia, female genital mutilation is regarded as a universal problem that is also practiced in Southern Asia and Latin America.
There are no real scientific or medical benefits to FGM, making this procedure a complete violation of human rights that disregards the health and wellness of girls and women. FGM is also noted to cause significant short-term and long-term physically damaging effects.
Short-term impacts of this procedure include severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding and infections. Long-term impacts include infertility, chronic pain, PTSD, anxiety, depression, birth complications, increased risk of HIV transmission and, in severe cases, death.
It is important to recognize that FGM procedures are never safe and are rarely performed by medically trained individuals. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), only one in five girls have this procedure done by medical professionals. In addition, these procedures are typically performed in unsanitary environments with non-medical equipment and without anesthetic or pain medication.
FGM is also proven to impact women’s and girls’ education. In an article published in the Journal of Youth Studies in 2018, scholars Joseph C. Pesambili and Kitila Mkumbo analyze the implications of FGM on girls’ education in Tarime, Tanzania. Their findings conclude that FGM increases the likelihood of girls dropping out of school, negatively impacting their access to education, retention and academic performance. This is due to the community view that FGM “enforces marriageability,” thus taking girls away from completing their education or seeking higher education.
The reasons behind performing this procedure often vary from region to region, with socio-cultural factors being the most prominent. In many cultures, FGM is considered a necessary part of raising a girl and plays an integral role in shaping culture and identity. Because of this, many people force their daughters to undergo the procedure as they fear condemnation or ostracization from society if they choose against it. These social pressures explain why these harmful procedures are still practiced today.
Some cultures regard FGM as a “rite of passage” from childhood to adulthood and consider the procedure necessary for preparing a girl for marriage. This is observable in the Kurya Tribe of Tanzania. FGM is also motivated by beliefs of controlling women’s sexuality to ensure virginity prior to marriage and to confirm fidelity afterwards. Some cultures may even attribute the practice to religious beliefs, even though there is no connection to or mention of FGM in religious texts.
No matter the reason, female genital mutilation is a harmful act of child abuse and a direct form of violence against women and girls. It is an act of controlling women’s bodies and sexuality, eliminating their choice over their own bodies. It is an act that the UNFPA deems “a manifestation of deeply entrenched gender inequality.”
Ending the practice of FGM is essential for protecting girls from completely unnecessary, permanent harm and to restore the very human rights the procedure goes against. Human right violations include the right to freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment; the right to the highest attainable standard of health; the rights of a child; the right to physical and mental integrity; and the right to life.
It is estimated that 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone some form of FGM. Without any action, the UNFPA estimates 68 million girls are at risk of undergoing FGM by 2030.
Ending FGM is also essential in recognizing gender inequalities and power imbalances between men and women. FGM perpetuates a continual cycle of harm on women and girls, justifying harm and violence against them. With the impacts of the procedure, such as girls being unable to complete their education, women are incapable of realizing their full potential in terms of education, income and life.
Over the last decade, there has been significant progress in combatting female genital mutilation. Currently, the UNFPA and UNICEF are running a Joint Programme to accelerate the abandonment of FGM. They are focusing on ending FGM in 17 countries while supporting various regional and global initiatives. As of 2022, 14 of these 17 countries have adopted legal and policy frameworks banning FGM. This program has also helped more than 5.5 million girls receive prevention, protection and care services related to FGM.
With awareness and education, the UN plans to eliminate female genital mutilation by 2030. The UN is taking a coordinated and systematic approach to “engage whole communities and focus on human rights, gender equality, sexual education and attention to the needs of women and girls who suffer from [FGM] consequences.”
What are simple ways to observe the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM?
There are a number of ways to recognize and show solidarity for the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM on Feb. 6. By observing this day, you can help take the next steps in ending female genital mutilation on a global scale. Even the smallest actions can reap truly beneficial results.
For starters, you can show solidarity and raise awareness for the initiative by using the official UN hashtag, #Act2EndFGM or #EndFGM on social media.
You can also familiarize yourself with the impacts of FGM and ways to end it here. Or, you can read and share first-hand accounts of FGM survivors here.
Lastly, you can take a pledge to end FGM with UNICEF here or make a small donation to a charity that supports the termination of female genital mutilation.