Medicalisation of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) with focus in South and South-East Asia and The Role of Healthcare Professionals

Female genital mutilation/Ccutting (FGM/C) is internationally recognised as a gross violation of human rights and a form of violence against women and girls.

The latest data released by UNICEF in March 2024 shows that 230 million women and girls worldwide are living with or at risk of FGM/C. For the first time, prevalence estimates include Asia, where 80 million women and girls are affected—second only to Africa, which accounts for 144 million.

A concerning trend is the medicalisation of FGM/C, where the practice is carried out by healthcare providers. This is increasing in some countries across South and South-East Asia, despite limited data being available. Medicalisation not only legitimises the practice but also contradicts medical ethics and undermines global efforts to eliminate FGM/C.

Who’s it for?

Healthcare professionals, researchers, activists, policymakers, and UN agencies

When is it?

Wednesday, 8 October, 2025, 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM SAST

Where is it?

Virtual: Online via Zoom
In person: Room Watsonia, Cape Town International Convention Centre

Purpose of the event

This side event will bring together healthcare professionals, researchers, activists, policymakers, and UN agencies to:

Share experiences and knowledge on the medicalisation of FGM/C in Asia and beyond.
Reflect on progress, challenges, and gaps in addressing medicalisation.
Strengthen collaboration and strategies to end the medicalisation of FGM/C globally.

As part of the programme, we will launch:

An Evidence Brief on the burden, policies, and laws related to the medicalisation of FGM/C in South and South-East Asia. Jointly developed by the Asia Network to End FGM/C, ARROW, Orchid Project, Equality Now, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the brief analyses data, national laws, and policies, and provides recommendations to accelerate change.
A Joint Statement Against Medicalisation of FGM/C in Asia, endorsed by UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, FIGO, the International Confederation of Midwives, and the Asia Network to End FGM/C. The statement condemns the medicalisation of FGM/C as a violation of medical ethics and calls on all health professionals to refuse to perform the practice and to advocate for explicit legal prohibitions.

Expected outcomes

By the end of this side event, participants will:

Gain increased awareness of recent evidence on the prevalence and harms of FGM/C and its medicalisation.
Recognise the ethical responsibility of healthcare professionals in preventing medicalisation and supporting affected communities.
Engage in cross-cultural learning through dialogue between obstetricians, gynaecologists, midwives, and allied healthcare practitioners from Asia and beyond.
Help shape follow-up action, including networks for continued collaboration, shared learning, and collective advocacy to end FGM/C.
Contribute to a strong, united commitment to denounce FGM/C and its medicalisation, and to act as agents of change in their own regions.

Panelists:

Dr Hannah Nazri, Malaysian Doctors for Women and Children & Asia Network to End FGM/C
Prof Hassan Shehata, Vice-President, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Dr Hrishikesh Pai, FIGO Trustee Asia, Oceania Region, Former President of Federation of Obstetric & Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI)

Anna af Ugglas, Chief Executive, International Confederation of Midwives
Dr Wisal Ahmed (online), FGM Advisor, Programme Division; Global Coordinator for FGM Elimination, UNFPA HQ
Christina Pallitto (online), Harmful Practices Lead / Scientist, World Health Organization / HRP