Female genital mutilation (FGM)is a human rights violation impacting millions of women and girls worldwide. As we approach the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation on 6 February, it is vital to raise awareness and strengthen our global commitment to ending this harmful practice. Below are five key things you should know about FGM, drawn from leading research, expert insights, and the lived experiences of survivors and activists around the world.
1. FGM is Global
While FGM is most prevalent in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, it also occurs in some communities throughout Europe, the Americas, and Australia. Migration patterns mean that no country is entirely untouched by this issue. Understanding the global nature of FGM helps dispel myths that it is confined to a single region or religious group.
In 2020, in partnership with the End FGM European Network and the US End FGM/C Network, we released a report calling for global action to end the practice. We found at least 92 countries* across the globe where there is currently available evidence of women and girls living with FGM/C or who are at risk of having FGM/C performed on them. Now, five years later, we are in the process of updating the report, due to be launched later this month on 25 February 2025.
2. FGM Violates Fundamental Human Rights
FGM is internationally recognized as a violation of the human rights of women and girls. It infringes upon their right to health, equality, and bodily autonomy. By removing or injuring healthy female genital tissue, the procedure undermines women and girls’ right to dignity and bodily integrity, and can severely compromise physical and mental well-being.
3. It Has Serious Health Consequences
FGM can lead to severe health complications both immediately and later in life. Short-term issues include intense pain, heavy bleeding, infections, and shock. Long-term consequences may involve chronic pelvic pain, urinary problems, complications in childbirth, and even increased neonatal death rates. Survivors often experience psychological trauma, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress.
4. Communities Are Leading Change
In many regions, change is being driven from within local communities. Grassroots activists—often women who have been directly affected—partner with religious leaders, educators, healthcare providers, and policymakers to challenge traditional norms and advocate for the abandonment of FGM. These efforts have proven successful in shifting attitudes, reducing FGM rates, and influencing legal reforms.
From Kenya and Sierra Leone to Egypt, India, and Colombia, we’re working with partners to end the practice.
5. Awareness and Education Are Critical
Empowering families and communities with factual, accessible information about FGM’s harms is key to changing harmful social norms. Education—particularly among young people—can inspire a new generation to question dangerous traditions and create a culture that supports and defends women’s rights. Furthermore, continued engagement from international organizations, governments, and civil society ensures that progress toward zero FGM remains on the global agenda.
We work with journalists across the world to support informed reporting of FGM in the media. Explore our series of toolkits, available in English, French, and Arabic here.
Mark your calendar: International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM (6 February 2025)
The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation on 6 February 2025 is a powerful reminder of the global responsibility we share to protect girls and women from this violent practice. It is an opportunity for everyone—survivors, activists, policymakers, and allies—to unite, share knowledge, and collaborate on meaningful solutions to end FGM.
Together, we can end FGM
By working together—amplifying survivor voices, respecting cultural differences while rejecting harmful practices, and promoting education—we can make FGM a relic of the past and ensure that every girl and woman has the opportunity to thrive, free from violence and full of hope.
Discover our resources on FGM
Launching soon: FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION/CUTTING (FGM/C) – AN URGENT NEED FOR A GLOBAL RESPONSE
Sign up to be the first to receive our latest ground-breaking global report on FGM at the end of February, covering developments across Africa, the Americas, and beyond.