The UN has designated February 6 as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a harmful practice that is considered an “extreme form of discrimination against women and girls” that violates their fundamental human rights. The UN’s theme for 2017 is, “Building a solid and interactive bridge between Africa and the world to accelerate ending FGM by 2030.” FGM affects at least 200 million women and girls globally and will continue to impact millions more before the practice is eliminated. The practice, which involves “altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons,” endangers women and girls’ physical and mental health, causing infections, serious complications during pregnancy, long-term pain, emotional trauma, and even death.
According to the UN, “[t]o promote the abandonment of FGM, coordinated and systematic efforts are needed, and they must engage whole communities and focus on human rights and gender equality. These efforts should emphasize societal dialogue and the empowerment of communities to act collectively to end the practice. They must also address the sexual and reproductive health needs of women and girls who suffer from its consequences.”
Compiled from: International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, United Nations (February 6, 2017); The world must make faster progress to end female genital mutilation by 2030, Joint Statement, UNICEF and UNFPA (February 6, 2017); Photo Feature: International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, UN News Centre (February 6, 2017).