200 million women and girls are victims of genital mutilation

UNICEF plans complete termination of FGM by 2030
More than 200 million women and girls in 30 countries around the world have experienced some form of FGM, and UNICEF fears that this number will increase year by year. About half of all circumcised women worldwide currently come from three countries. Despite education and protests, the circumcision of young girls is not only widespread in these countries. UNICEF is committed to ensuring that such cruel interventions will hopefully someday be a thing of the past.

Small girls are still subjected to some form of genital mutilation (FGM) on a daily basis. Female genital mutilation refers to a number of procedures, but whichever method is used, circumcision violates children's rights and endangers their health. In the run-up to the International Days against Female Genital Mutilation, the United Nations published a new statistical report and a recent press release calling for a full outlawing of the procedure.

There are many women living in Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia who have experienced genital mutilation. Many people also struggle with their psychological consequences throughout their lives. (Image: Rob / fotolia.com)

Half of all women with FGM live in Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia
At least 200 million women and girls have undergone some kind of genital mutilation. In some countries, this cruel procedure is still widespread. About half of these women come from the three countries Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia, explain the experts. Female genital mutilation differs in all regions and cultures. Some forms of FGM can have life-threatening consequences and all violate the rights of girls and women, explains Geeta Rao Gupta of UNICEF. Governments, health professionals, community leaders, parents and families must all increase their efforts to end this terrible practice.

Number of women with FGM has increased by about 70 million since 2014
Fourteen-year-old girls represent 44 million victims of FGM. Of these girls, 56 percent live in Gambia and 54 percent in Mauritania. In Indonesia, about half of all 11-year-old girls have already undergone such an inhumane practice, say the scientists. The countries with the highest prevalence among girls and women aged 15 to 49 are Somalia with 98 percent, Guinea with 97 percent and Djibouti with 93 percent, explain the experts. In most countries girls would be circumcised before they reach their fifth birthday. The worldwide number of women circumcised increased by nearly 70 million compared to 2014, the researchers warn. Cause is above all the rapid population increase. Recording the level of female genital mutilation is important in eliminating this practice, UNICEF researchers say. When governments document the cases and publish national statistics on FGM, the scale can be seen and efforts accelerated to protect the rights of girls and women.

Five countries passed laws against FGM
Since 2008, more than 15,000 municipalities and sub-districts in twenty countries have publicly stated that genital mutilation can no longer be carried out. Last year alone, more than 2,000 municipalities joined the measure, and announced that they would no longer have FGM carried out in the future. Five countries have now adopted national laws that criminalize this cruel practice, say UNICEF experts. The data also shows that there is a widespread rejection of the practice, even in countries where FGM is still in progress. Many people think that FGM should be abolished. This also includes almost two thirds of boys and men, explain the physicians. Nevertheless, if the current trend continues, the number of circumcised girls and women will increase over the next 15 years, researchers warn. UNICEF and UNFPA run the largest global program to combat FGM. The aim is to completely ban genital mutilation by the year 2030. (As)