February 2026

The Role of Families and Communities in Preventing FGM

Leave a Comment / Attention Deficit, Child Labour, ChildNotBride, Community Development, Cultural practices in Africa, End FGM, Events, Female Genital Mutilation, Female Roles in Nation Building, Gender, Gender Based Violence, Gender Equality, Girl Education, Global warming, Health, Health Communication, Mental Health, Monday Health Burst, Nation Building, Reproductive Health, Women, Women's Rights /

In the landscape of global health in 2026, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) stands as one of the most persistent violations of human rights, yet the tide is beginning to turn through sophisticated, community-led interventions. As of this year, over 230 million women and girls alive today have undergone the procedure, and UNICEF projects that 4.5 million more remain at risk in 2026 alone [1]. The struggle to end this practice is no longer just a legal battle; it has evolved into a deep-rooted cultural shift focusing on the intersection of family protection and communal health [4].

The prevention of FGM begins at the heart of the home, where families are being empowered to dismantle the “social obligation” myth. Recent research from the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme indicates that when mothers are provided with formal education and economic agency, the likelihood of their daughters being cut drops significantly [3]. Families are now being reached through “Positive Masculinity” programs, where over 800,000 men and boys have pledged to protect their female relatives, challenging the outdated notion that FGM is a prerequisite for marriageability [3]. By addressing the family as the primary decision-making unit, advocacy groups are successfully replacing fear of social exclusion with a shared commitment to a daughter’s physical integrity and future health.

Moving beyond the front door, the most effective preventative measure in 2026 has been the rise of Public Declarations of Abandonment within local communities. This collective approach shifts the “social contract,” ensuring that no single family feels isolated in their choice to stop the practice. Many regions have successfully implemented Alternative Rites of Passage (ARP), which preserve the cultural celebration of womanhood through education, mentorship, and gifts minus the physical harm. This allows communities to maintain their rich heritage while evolving their health standards. Simultaneously, health systems are closing the gap on “medicalization” the dangerous trend of health professionals performing the cut. The World Health Organization has recently tightened codes of conduct, training midwives and doctors to serve as the first line of defense, educating parents on the $1.4 billion annual global cost of treating FGM-related complications, ranging from obstetric hemorrhage to lifelong psychological trauma [2].

To ensure these gains are permanent, a robust network of local surveillance and cross-border cooperation has emerged. In 2026, over 3,200 communities have established “watchdog” groups that monitor girls during school holidays, a peak time for the practice [3]. These grassroots efforts, supported by national laws that criminalize “vacation cutting,” create a safety net that follows a girl from her village to the city and beyond. The data proves that this holistic approach works; for every dollar invested in these prevention measures, there is a tenfold return in health savings and economic productivity [2]. By weaving together, the strength of the family unit with the collective will of the community, we are finally moving toward a world where every girl can grow up whole, healthy, and empowered.

Call to Action

The end of FGM is within our reach, but it requires your voice and your action. You can make a difference today:

  • Educate and Advocate: Share the facts about the health risks of FGM within your social circles. Silence is where the practice thrives.
  • Support Grassroots Organizations: Donate to or volunteer with local NGOs that facilitate Alternative Rites of Passage and provide education to at-risk families.
  • Report Risk: If you know a girl is at risk of being subjected to FGM, contact local child protection services or international helplines immediately.
  • Engage Men and Boys: Start conversations with the men in your community about the importance of protecting the rights and health of women and girls.

Monday Health Burst is an initiative of CFHI to address issues of basic health concern. Join us every Monday on all our social media platforms for more episodes.

References

  • UNICEF Data (2025/2026): FGM Prevalence and Statistics
  • WHO Global Health Update: The Cost of FGM and Prevention Strategies
  • UNFPA 2025 Annual Report: Eliminating FGM through Community Action
  • United Nations: International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM

 

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Creating a Safe Environment for Girls in Schools and Communities.

Leave a Comment / Child Trafficking, ChildNotBride, Community Development, Cultural practices in Africa, End FGM, Female Genital Mutilation, Female Roles in Nation Building, Gender, Gender Based Violence, Gender Equality, Girl Education, Global warming, Health, Health Communication, Mental Health, Postpartum Depression, Reproductive Health, Speak Wednesday, WHO, Women, Women Education, Women in Leadership, Women's Rights /

Creating a safe environment for girls in schools and communities is not a luxury; it is a necessity for national growth, justice, and human dignity. When a girl walks into a classroom, she should be thinking about her lessons and dreams not about fear. Yet for millions of girls around the world, safety is not guaranteed. According to the Malala Fund State of Girls’ Education Report, more than 120 million girls globally are out of school, with insecurity, poverty, and gender discrimination among the leading causes (Malala Fund, 2023). Behind these numbers are real girls whose futures are delayed or permanently disrupted.

Nigeria reflects this global crisis in painful ways. Data from UNICEF shows that Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children in the world estimated at over 18 million with girls disproportionately affected in conflict-affected regions (UNICEF Nigeria, 2023). The abduction of schoolgirls from Chibok in 2014 drew global outrage, yet attacks on schools have continued in parts of Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara, and Sokoto States. Recent education security reporting highlights ongoing threats and forced withdrawals of girls from school due to fear of violence. (See UNICEF Press Release on education safety.)

Violence is not only external. Research by Plan International shows that many girls experience harassment, bullying, or sexual violence within school environments, often from peers or authority figures. Such incidents frequently go unreported due to stigma and weak reporting mechanisms (Plan International, 2022). When girls feel unsafe in school, attendance drops and dropout rates increase. According to UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report, school-related gender-based violence significantly affects learning outcomes and contributes to early school leaving (UNESCO, 2023).

Infrastructure gaps also contribute to insecurity. Thousands of schools in Nigeria lack perimeter fencing, security personnel, and adequate lighting, making them vulnerable to intrusion, theft, and attacks (Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Report, 2024). Beyond physical security, access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities is essential. The WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme reports that inadequate sanitation disproportionately affects adolescent girls, especially during menstruation, leading to absenteeism and reduced participation (WHO/UNICEF JMP Report, 2023).

Community norms further shape girls’ vulnerability. According to UN Women, harmful gender norms, early marriage, and tolerance of violence increase girls’ risk of dropping out and experiencing abuse. In areas with high gender inequality, girls face restricted mobility and limited decision-making power, undermining their educational continuity and safety (UN Women, 2023).

Creating safer environments therefore requires coordinated action. Governments must strengthen school security architecture, implement early warning systems, and enforce child protection policies. Schools should adopt safeguarding frameworks and confidential reporting systems. Communities must challenge harmful norms and actively support girls’ education. Civil society organizations should be supported to expand advocacy, mentorship, and survivor support services.

Ensuring safety for girls is not simply about protection it is about possibility. When girls learn in secure environments, they are more likely to complete their education, participate in the workforce, delay early marriage, and contribute to economic growth. Safety forms the bedrock of confidence and achievement. If development is truly our goal, then protecting girls in schools and communities must be our shared responsibility.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues around gender-base violence and gender-bias.

References

Creating a Safe Environment for Girls in Schools and Communities. Read More »

Families as Frontline Defenders Against Harmful Practices.

Leave a Comment / Community Development, Cultural practices in Africa, Female Genital Mutilation, Female Roles in Nation Building, Gender, Gender Based Violence, Gender Equality, Girl Education, Global warming, Health, Health Communication, Mental Health, Monday Health Burst, Reproductive Health, Women Education, Women in Leadership, Women's Rights /

Across the world, harmful practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage continue to violate the rights, health, and futures of millions of girls and young women, often entrenched in patriarchal norms and social pressures. UNICEF estimates that at least 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM, and over 12 million girls are married before age 18 every year, both of which are rooted in gender inequality and harmful social norms upheld at the family and community level. These practices not only harm physical and psychological wellbeing but also constrain girls’ access to education, livelihoods, and basic human rights. (UNICEF)

Families are not merely passive bystanders in this landscape they can be frontline defenders against harmful practices. Research shows that families influence health behavior, decision-making, and wellbeing from early life through adolescence and adulthood, making them invaluable actors in preventing and countering abuse and discrimination. Family-oriented health promotion strategies have been found to be effective in reducing child maltreatment and strengthening protective factors by enhancing parenting practices, social support, and overall family wellbeing. (PubMed)

In many communities where harmful practices like FGM and child marriage persist, decision making often occurs within the household, with parents, extended family members, and elders shaping whether girls are subjected to such rites. In parts of sub-Saharan Africa, families fear social ostracism and harm to a girl’s “marriage prospects” if she is not cut or married early beliefs that are enforced by elders and community expectations. This social pressure persists even where awareness of harm is increasing, illustrating how deeply family influence and social norms are intertwined. (acrl-rfp.org) In Mali, for example, prevalence rates of FGM remain high only dropping from 91% to 89% over two decades underscoring that legal change alone is insufficient without deep shifts in family and community norms. (ODI: Think change)

However, when families act as agents of change rather than enforcers of harmful norms, progress is possible. In Sudan in 2025, community committees that included family members mobilized against an FGM practitioner’s arrival, stopping the practice in its tracks, and demonstrating the power of collective family and community action to protect children. This local action, grounded in awareness about health risks and legal protections, helped shift attitudes and strengthen community resistance against harmful practices. (UNICEF)

Education is another critical lever. Families that value girls’ schooling and future potential are more likely to delay or abandon harmful practices, recognizing the long-term benefits of learning and opportunity. Research from UNICEF indicates that education can shift attitudes and reduce the transmission of harmful practices across generations, as families who understand the risks and benefits are better positioned to protect their daughters. (UNICEF DATA)

Promoting family engagement as a public health strategy also aligns with broader efforts to prevent violence and abuse. Evidence shows that family-based interventions reduce harmful behaviors such as bullying among children and adolescents by improving parenting, communication, and protective supervision. These family systems create environments where children feel supported, informed, and safer, reducing the likelihood of various forms of harm. (SpringerLink)

Yet meaningful change requires more than individual awareness it requires collective, sustained action that equips families with knowledge, resources, and support to challenge harmful norms. Governments, civil society, health systems, and community leaders must invest in education, legal protections, economic opportunities, and culturally appropriate outreach that reinforces families as protectors rather than perpetuators of harmful practices. As one advocate puts it, “Families who understand the suffering these practices cause is increasingly willing to resist, one conversation at a time.” (UNICEF)

Call to Action: Ending harmful practices such as FGM and child marriage depends on empowering families with evidence, support, and tools to reject harmful norms and champion girls’ rights. Invest in family-focused education and prevention, strengthen community support networks, involve elders and parents in advocacy, and ensure every girl’s health, education, and dignity are protected.

References

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Gender-Bias Sustains Violence Against Girls

Leave a Comment / Community Development, End FGM, Female Genital Mutilation, Female Roles in Nation Building, Gender, Gender Based Violence, Gender Equality, Girl Education, Global warming, Health, Health Communication, Speak Wednesday, Special Events, Stop FGM, WHO, Women, Women Education, Women in Leadership /

Across the globe, gender bias fuels and sustains violence against girls, shaping social norms that devalue their rights, safety, and dignity. Gender bias refers to the systemic prejudice that privileges one gender over another, embedding harmful beliefs about power, control, and worth. These biases are not abstract they manifest in everyday interactions, institutional policies, cultural practices, and legal frameworks that indirectly condone or fail to protect girls from violence and discrimination. Gender bias is a root cause of many forms of gender-based violence, contributing to a world where nearly 1 in 3 women and girls experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, most often from intimate partners or family members. This stark reality reflects deep-seated inequalities and underscores how societal norms around gender perpetuate violence rather than prevent it. (UN Women Knowledge hub)

Gender bias does not only drive overt acts of violence; it also grows through socialization and cultural messaging that position girls as subordinate or less valuable. In many communities, girls are more likely to face early marriage with 1 in 5 women aged 20–24 first married before age 18 a practice rooted in beliefs that girls need male guardianship and are better suited to domestic roles than education or economic participation. These harmful norms create environments where violence against girls is tolerated or overlooked, and where girls themselves may internalize messages that diminish their sense of self-worth and agency. (violenceagainstchildren.un.org)

The consequences of violence sustained by gender bias are severe and far-reaching. Beyond physical injuries, girls and young women who experience violence are at greater risk of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, unintended pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections. The psychological impact can hinder education, employment, and social participation, trapping survivors in cycles of marginalization. When legal systems, communities, and institutions fail to protect girls or address the bias that underpins violence, they perpetuate impunity and signal that girls’ safety is negotiable rather than a human right. (UN Women Knowledge hub)

Efforts to combat gender-based violence must therefore confront the gender bias that sustains it. This means challenging societal norms that excuse controlling behaviour, silence survivors, or blame victims for the harm inflicted upon them. It requires that governments strengthen legal protections, enforce laws that criminalize domestic and sexual violence, and ensure survivors have access to justice and support services. It also means investing in community education that promotes gender equality, respectful relationships, and non-violent conflict resolution. Addressing gender bias is central to dismantling the conditions that allow violence against girls to persist. (UN Women Knowledge hub)

True change demands collective action from families, teachers, health workers, policymakers, and young people themselves to build cultures that respect girls’ autonomy, voices, and contributions. Eliminating violence against girls is not simply a matter of responding to individual incidents; it is a long-term effort to transform the biases that place girls at risk in the first place. Communities that challenge harmful gender norms and promote equality create safer, healthier, and more just environments for all children and future generations.

Call to action: Governments, civil society, community leaders, educators, and individuals must work together to replace harmful gender stereotypes with norms that respect human rights and dignity. Strengthening legal frameworks, investing in prevention programmes, supporting survivors, and promoting gender-equal education are essential steps toward a future where girls can live free from violence and realize their full potential.

References

• UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children: Girls
https://violenceagainstchildren.un.org/content/girls (violenceagainstchildren.un.org

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Health Is More Than Treating Illness

2 Comments / Community Development, Gender, Global warming, Health, Health Communication, Hygiene, Mental Health, Monday Health Burst, WHO /

Health is often misunderstood as the absence of illness, yet evidence shows that health is far more than treating disease after it occurs. The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (1). This means that healthcare systems and communities must move beyond reactive treatment and prioritize prevention, education, and supportive environments that enable people to live healthy lives long before they become patients.

Globally, nearly 60% of deaths are linked to preventable causes, including infections, maternal complications, malnutrition, and non-communicable diseases that could be reduced through early awareness, healthy behaviors, and timely care (1). Treating illness alone addresses only the final stage of a much longer health journey. When communities lack access to accurate information, clean water, nutrition, and preventive services, diseases spread faster and outcomes worsen, even when treatment is available.

In Nigeria, the limits of treatment-focused health systems are clearly visible. The country bears a disproportionate burden of preventable conditions, accounting for about 20% of global maternal deaths, many of which are linked to delays in care-seeking, poor nutrition, and lack of antenatal education rather than lack of hospitals alone (2). Similarly, malaria remains endemic, with over 1.9 million reported cases annually, despite the disease being largely preventable through awareness, environmental control, and early testing (3). These figures demonstrate that treatment without prevention is insufficient.

Recent public health emergencies further reinforce this reality. Between 2023 and 2024, Nigeria recorded over 19,000 suspected cholera cases, driven by unsafe water, poor sanitation, and limited hygiene awareness (4). Cholera is not primarily a failure of medicine but a failure of systems that support healthy living. Likewise, outbreaks of measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases continue to occur, largely due to misinformation and low community awareness rather than lack of vaccines (5).

Health also includes mental and social well-being, areas often overlooked in treatment-centered approaches. Studies show that people living in environments marked by poverty, stress, gender inequality, or violence experience poorer health outcomes even when medical care is available (6). Women and girls exposed to harmful practices or denied health information often suffer long-term physical and psychological consequences that treatment alone cannot undo.

Research consistently shows that preventive and promotive health interventions can reduce disease burden by up to 40%, improve service uptake, and lower healthcare costs (1). Community education, early screening, nutrition support, immunization, clean water access, and supportive social structures are as essential to health as hospitals and medicines. Healthy communities are built through informed choices, safe environments, and systems that support well-being at every stage of life.

Call to Action: If health is truly more than treating illness, then governments, health institutions, civil society organizations, and communities must invest in prevention, awareness, and social support systems. Strengthening health education, promoting early screening, improving water and sanitation, addressing gender and social inequalities, and empowering communities with knowledge are critical steps toward sustainable health outcomes. Treating illness saves lives but preventing illness and promoting well-being transforms societies.

References

  1. World Health Organization – Constitution & Health Promotion
    https://www.who.int/about/governance/constitution
    https://www.who.int/teams/health-promotion
  2. WHO Nigeria – Maternal Health Facts
    https://www.who.int/nigeria/health-topics/maternal-health
  3. World Health Organization – Malaria Factsheet
    https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria
  4. Nigeria Centre for Disease Control – Cholera Updates
    https://ncdc.gov.ng/diseases/cholera
  5. UNICEF Nigeria – Immunization and Disease Prevention
    https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/health
  6. World Health Organization – Social Determinants of Health
    https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health
  7. PAHO Calls for Increased Surveillance Amid Rising Measles Cases https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/paho-calls-increased-surveillance-amid-rising-measles-cases-americas-2026-02-04/ (turn0news26)

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Female Genital Mutilation as Gender-Based Violence: A Violation of Girls’ Rights

End FGM, Female Genital Mutilation, Female Roles in Nation Building, Gender, Gender Based Violence, Gender Equality, Global warming, Health, Health Communication, International Day of Rural Women, Menstrual Health and Hygiene, Mental Health, Reproductive Health, Special Events, Stop FGM, WHO, Women, Women Education, Women's Rights /

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a harmful traditional practice and a clear form of gender-based violence that fundamentally violates the human rights of girls and women. The World Health Organization defines FGM as all procedures involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to female genital organs for non-medical reasons (1). The practice has no health benefits and causes lifelong harm, violating girls’ rights to health, bodily integrity, security, and freedom from cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment (1).

Globally, more than 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM, spanning at least 30 countries across Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia (1). Each year, an estimated 4 million additional girls remain at risk, most of them under the age of 15, highlighting the urgent need for accelerated action (1). These figures reflect not isolated incidents, but a sustained pattern of violence rooted in gender inequality.

FGM persists primarily because of unequal power relations and entrenched social norms that subordinate girls and women. In many communities, the practice is falsely justified as a cultural rite of passage, a prerequisite for marriage, or a means of controlling female sexuality. These beliefs reinforce the notion that girls’ bodies are subject to communal control rather than individual rights, a hallmark of gender-based violence (2).

FGM remains most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, with some of the highest rates recorded in Somalia (approximately 99%), Guinea (94.5%), and Djibouti (93%) among women aged 15–49 (3). In Nigeria, an estimated 19.9 million girls and women have undergone FGM, making it one of the countries with the highest absolute number of survivors globally (4). Prevalence varies significantly across regions, with higher rates reported in the South-East and South-West, including states such as Imo, where prevalence exceeds 60% in some communities (4). These statistics underscore how deeply embedded the practice remains at both national and sub-national levels.

As a form of violence, FGM is typically carried out without informed consent, often during childhood, and results in enduring physical, psychological, and social harm. Survivors frequently report anxiety, emotional distress, reduced self-esteem, and loss of bodily autonomy, which can persist throughout adulthood (5). The trauma associated with the experience often affects girls’ confidence, participation in education, and ability to form healthy relationships later in life.

Beyond psychological harm, FGM has serious implications for sexual and reproductive health. It increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, contributes to maternal and neonatal morbidity, and places additional strain on already fragile health systems in low-resource settings (1). These consequences further affirm why FGM is recognized globally as both a public health crisis and a human rights violation.

Recognizing its severity, the international community has committed to eliminating FGM under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 5.3, with a global target year of 2030 (5). Agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have led coordinated efforts focusing on legal reform, community engagement, survivor-centred health services, and prevention strategies that challenge harmful gender norms (6).

At the national level, progress has been uneven. In countries like Somalia, WHO and partners have supported health system reforms, professional training, and community-based interventions to address both FGM and broader gender-based violence (7). In Nigeria, UNICEF has supported community-led abandonment initiatives in high-prevalence states, mobilizing local leaders, families, and youth to protect girls at risk and shift social norms (4).

The impact of FGM on confidence and well-being cannot be overstated. Many survivors live with lasting psychological effects, including post-traumatic stress, fear, and diminished self-worth, which influence education, employment, and social participation (5). These invisible scars are often overlooked, yet they shape the life chances of millions of women and girls.

Ending FGM requires decisive, multi-level action. Governments must strengthen and enforce laws that criminalize the practice. Communities must be supported to challenge harmful norms through dialogue and education. Health systems must provide survivor-centred care, including mental health services. Men and boys must be engaged as allies in promoting gender equality, while robust data systems are needed to monitor progress and guide policy decisions. Only through sustained, coordinated action can FGM be eliminated, and girls’ rights fully protected.

FGM is not culture it is violence. Ending it is not optional; it is an urgent moral, public health, and human rights imperative.

References

  1. World Health Organization (WHO). Female Genital Mutilation.
    https://www.who.int/health-topics/female-genital-mutilation
  2. WHO Regional Office for Africa. Female Genital Mutilation.
    https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/female-genital-mutilation
  3. UNICEF. New Statistical Report on Female Genital Mutilation.
    https://www.unicef.org/png/press-releases/new-statistical-report-female-genital-mutilation-shows-harmful-practice-global
  4. UNICEF Nigeria. FGM on the Rise Among Young Nigerian Girls.
    https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/press-releases/unicef-warns-fgm-rise-among-young-nigerian-girls
  5. UNICEF DATA. Female Genital Mutilation Statistics.
    https://data.unicef.org/topic/gender/fgm/
  6. World Health Organization. New Recommendations to End Medicalized FGM.
    https://www.who.int/news/item/28-04-2025-who-issues-new-recommendations-to-end-the-rise-in–medicalized–female-genital-mutilation-and-support-survivors
  7. World Health Organization. Addressing FGM and GBV in Somalia.
    https://www.who.int/about/accountability/results/who-results-report-2020-mtr/country-story/2023/improving-maternal-health-outcomes-by-addressing-female-genital-mutilation-and-gender-based-violence-in-somalia

 

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Female Genital Mutilation as Gender-Based Violence: A Violation of Girls’ Rights

Female Genital Mutilation, Female Roles in Nation Building, Gender, Gender Based Violence, Gender Equality, Girl Education, Global warming, Health, Health Communication, Hygiene, Speak Wednesday, Special Events, WHO, Women, Women Education, Women in Leadership, Women's Rights /

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a harmful traditional practice and a clear form of gender-based violence that fundamentally violates the human rights of girls and women. The World Health Organization defines FGM as all procedures involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to female genital organs for non-medical reasons (1). The practice has no health benefits and causes lifelong harm, violating girls’ rights to health, bodily integrity, security, and freedom from cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment (1).

Globally, more than 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM, spanning at least 30 countries across Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia (1). Each year, an estimated 4 million additional girls remain at risk, most of them under the age of 15, highlighting the urgent need for accelerated action (1). These figures reflect not isolated incidents, but a sustained pattern of violence rooted in gender inequality.

FGM persists primarily because of unequal power relations and entrenched social norms that subordinate girls and women. In many communities, the practice is falsely justified as a cultural rite of passage, a prerequisite for marriage, or a means of controlling female sexuality. These beliefs reinforce the notion that girls’ bodies are subject to communal control rather than individual rights, a hallmark of gender-based violence (2).

FGM remains most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, with some of the highest rates recorded in Somalia (approximately 99%), Guinea (94.5%), and Djibouti (93%) among women aged 15–49 (3). In Nigeria, an estimated 19.9 million girls and women have undergone FGM, making it one of the countries with the highest absolute number of survivors globally (4). Prevalence varies significantly across regions, with higher rates reported in the South-East and South-West, including states such as Imo, where prevalence exceeds 60% in some communities (4). These statistics underscore how deeply embedded the practice remains at both national and sub-national levels.

As a form of violence, FGM is typically carried out without informed consent, often during childhood, and results in enduring physical, psychological, and social harm. Survivors frequently report anxiety, emotional distress, reduced self-esteem, and loss of bodily autonomy, which can persist throughout adulthood (5). The trauma associated with the experience often affects girls’ confidence, participation in education, and ability to form healthy relationships later in life.

Beyond psychological harm, FGM has serious implications for sexual and reproductive health. It increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, contributes to maternal and neonatal morbidity, and places additional strain on already fragile health systems in low-resource settings (1). These consequences further affirm why FGM is recognized globally as both a public health crisis and a human rights violation.

Recognizing its severity, the international community has committed to eliminating FGM under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 5.3, with a global target year of 2030 (5). Agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have led coordinated efforts focusing on legal reform, community engagement, survivor-centred health services, and prevention strategies that challenge harmful gender norms (6).

At the national level, progress has been uneven. In countries like Somalia, WHO and partners have supported health system reforms, professional training, and community-based interventions to address both FGM and broader gender-based violence (7). In Nigeria, UNICEF has supported community-led abandonment initiatives in high-prevalence states, mobilizing local leaders, families, and youth to protect girls at risk and shift social norms (4).

The impact of FGM on confidence and well-being cannot be overstated. Many survivors live with lasting psychological effects, including post-traumatic stress, fear, and diminished self-worth, which influence education, employment, and social participation (5). These invisible scars are often overlooked, yet they shape the life chances of millions of women and girls.

Ending FGM requires decisive, multi-level action. Governments must strengthen and enforce laws that criminalize the practice. Communities must be supported to challenge harmful norms through dialogue and education. Health systems must provide survivor-centred care, including mental health services. Men and boys must be engaged as allies in promoting gender equality, while robust data systems are needed to monitor progress and guide policy decisions. Only through sustained, coordinated action can FGM be eliminated, and girls’ rights fully protected.

FGM is not culture it is violence. Ending it is not optional; it is an urgent moral, public health, and human rights imperative.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues around gender-base violence and gender-bias.

References

  1. World Health Organization (WHO). Female Genital Mutilation.
    https://www.who.int/health-topics/female-genital-mutilation
  2. WHO Regional Office for Africa. Female Genital Mutilation.
    https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/female-genital-mutilation
  3. UNICEF. New Statistical Report on Female Genital Mutilation.
    https://www.unicef.org/png/press-releases/new-statistical-report-female-genital-mutilation-shows-harmful-practice-global
  4. UNICEF Nigeria. FGM on the Rise Among Young Nigerian Girls.
    https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/press-releases/unicef-warns-fgm-rise-among-young-nigerian-girls
  5. UNICEF DATA. Female Genital Mutilation Statistics.
    https://data.unicef.org/topic/gender/fgm/
  6. World Health Organization. New Recommendations to End Medicalized FGM.
    https://www.who.int/news/item/28-04-2025-who-issues-new-recommendations-to-end-the-rise-in–medicalized–female-genital-mutilation-and-support-survivors
  7. World Health Organization. Addressing FGM and GBV in Somalia.
    https://www.who.int/about/accountability/results/who-results-report-2020-mtr/country-story/2023/improving-maternal-health-outcomes-by-addressing-female-genital-mutilation-and-gender-based-violence-in-somalia

 

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