Female genital mutilation, a crime with 230 million women and girls among its victims
More than 230 million women and girls live with the consequences of female genital mutilation, a practice that continues to put another 4.5 million minors at risk and constitutes a serious violation of human rights, warned United Nations agencies on the International Day of Zero Tolerance.
TL;DR
- Over 230 million women and girls are living with the consequences of FGM.
- An additional 4.5 million girls are at risk from this practice.
- FGM is a serious violation of human rights that compromises physical and mental health and can cause lifelong complications.
- The estimated annual cost of treating victims is $1.4 billion.
- Decades of activism have led to two-thirds of the population in countries where FGM is prevalent supporting its elimination.
- Progress is threatened by opposition, including dangerous arguments that it is acceptable if performed by medical professionals.
- Inadequate funding for local programs puts millions of girls at greater risk.
- Key actions include reinforcing prevention messages and involving opinion leaders and healthcare personnel.
- FGM affects women in countries like Somalia, Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, Chad, Yemen, Indonesia, and Iraq.