The time is now: End female genital mutilation/cutting, an urgent need for global response 2025

1. FGM/C is occurring in at least 94 countries globally

• • The report collates evidence from indirect estimates, small-scale research surveys, survivor testimonies, and news reports to provide information on the practice of FGM/C in 94 countries across the world, including 12 countries in Asia and 11 countries in the Middle East.
  • UNICEF data from 2024 shows that FGM/C affects 230 million women and girls worldwide, with specific prevalence data showing 80 million in Asia, 6 million in the Middle East, and 1–2 million in small or diaspora communities.
  • Recent research demonstrates for the first time that FGM/C is occurring in Azerbaijan, Vietnam, and Cambodia, highlighting the practice’s global scope.
  • FGM/C is documented on every continent except Antarctica.

2. Legal and resource gaps persist

• • Only 59 of the 94 countries with documented FGM/C have specific national laws or provisions addressing the practice.
  • There has been progress since 2020, with Sudan, Indonesia, Finland, Poland, and the United States passing new federal laws against FGM/C, while other countries strengthened their laws (such as France requiring education or awareness-raising on FGM/C in schools), passed laws at the state level (such as Galmudug state in Somalia), or adopted new legislation at the regional level as seen in the European Union.
  • However, rising backlash, as seen in challenges to anti-FGM/C laws in countries like Kenya and The Gambia in recent years, risks reversing years of hard-fought gains.
  • Funding for efforts to end FGM/C remains severely low and is not distributed in all regions where FGM/C takes place;  regions like MENA, Africa, and Asia are severely underfunded despite significant prevalence rates.

3. Survivor stories: Voices from the movement

• • Survivor testimonies from 7 countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas reveal the lived realities of FGM/C and efforts to end it, highlighting experiences from countries like the Maldives and Colombia, where there is a dearth of survivor voices in public conversations.
  • Stories highlight key themes such as medicalised FGM/C, intersectionality, the impact of genital mutilation on non-binary and intersex persons, and grassroots resistance in the face of backlash.
  • Survivors emphasise the urgent need for stronger protections, survivor-centred policies, and sustained funding.

4. Global and nuanced action is critical

• • A tailored, region-specific approach is essential to address variations in FGM/C practices.
  • Improved data collection, increased funding, and survivor-focused policies are necessary for sustained impact.

5. Call to action: End FGM/C now

• • Strengthen political commitment to prioritise FGM/C globally.
  • Expand research to close data gaps and track progress.
  • Scale resources, enforce comprehensive laws, and provide holistic survivor support.