Every year on February 6th, the world observes the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). This day serves as a global platform to raise awareness and accelerate efforts to eliminate this harmful practice. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines FGM as the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is a violation of human rights that affects millions of girls and women worldwide. Despite global efforts, FGM continues in many communities, necessitating urgent and collective action to eradicate it.
2025 Theme: Step Up the Pace
With just five years left to achieve the goal of eliminating FGM by 2030, urgent action is needed to empower girls and women. Survivor-led initiatives play a crucial role in shifting harmful gender and social norms.
To end FGM, coordinated and systematic efforts must involve entire communities, emphasizing:
✔ Human rights and gender equality
✔ Comprehensive sexual education ✔
✔Support for FGM survivors
UN Action & Global Efforts
Since 2012, February 6th has been recognized as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, reinforcing global efforts to eliminate the practice.
Understanding the Scope of the Problem
Global Prevalence
- Over 200 million girls and women have undergone FGM worldwide.
- An estimated 4 million girls are at risk of being subjected to FGM each year.
- The practice is most prevalent in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, though it also exists within immigrant communities in Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Cultural Justifications
FGM is often justified based on:
- Cultural beliefs surrounding purity and modesty.
- Social norms that equate FGM with marriageability.
- Religious misinterpretations, despite the absence of any religious mandate for FGM.
These justifications cannot overshadow the severe health, psychological, and emotional consequences inflicted by this practice.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in India: A Largely Unaddressed Issue
- Government Stance and Lack of Data
In 2017, the issue of FGM in India came to light when a petition was filed in the Supreme Court seeking a ban on the practice. In response, the Ministry of Women and Child Development stated that there was no official data or study to support the existence of FGM in the country. This lack of formal recognition has made it difficult to address the issue systematically or to implement targeted interventions.
However, the absence of official data does not necessarily mean the absence of the practice. Activists and researchers have highlighted that FGM is quietly practiced in certain communities, particularly among the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community, a Shia Muslim sect primarily concentrated in states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Kerala, and Madhya Pradesh.
- Unofficial Reports and Community Practices
Despite the government’s stance, unofficial reports and testimonies from survivors suggest that FGM, known as “khatna” or “khafd” within the Bohra community, continues to be performed on young girls. The procedure, often carried out in secrecy, involves the cutting or nicking of the clitoral hood, typically when girls are between the ages of 6 and 7. The practice is justified by some as a religious or cultural tradition, though it has no basis in Islamic scripture and is widely condemned by human rights organizations.
Activists and survivors from the Bohra community have been at the forefront of efforts to raise awareness about FGM in India. Organizations like Speak Out on FGM and WeSpeakOut have worked to break the silence around the practice, sharing personal stories and advocating for legal and social change. Their efforts have brought national and international attention to the issue, challenging the notion that FGM is not a problem in India.
The Devastating Consequences of FGM
- Immediate Health Risks
✔ Severe pain and trauma
✔ Excessive bleeding and infections
✔ Urinary difficulties
✔ Risk of death
- Long-Term Health Consequences
✔ Chronic pain and reproductive health complications
✔ Menstrual and childbirth complications.
✔ Increased risk of maternal and infant mortality
- Psychological & Social Impact
✔ Trauma, anxiety, and depression
✔ Diminished self-worth
✔ Gender inequality and disempowerment
FGM is a manifestation of gender discrimination that strips women and girls of control over their own bodies and lives.
Progress in the Fight Against FGM
✔ Declining Prevalence: A girl today is one-third less likely to undergo FGM than 30 years ago.
✔ Legal Reforms: Many countries have enacted laws banning the practice.
✔ Awareness and Outreach: Campaigns have reached 250 million people, shifting attitudes and fostering change.
✔ Protection and Care: 7 million girls and women have received essential services.
✔ Community Action: 12,000 grassroots organizations are actively working to eliminate FGM.
✔ Public Commitment: Over 50 million people have pledged to abandon the practice.
Challenges Ahead
✔Deep-Rooted Cultural Norms: FGM persists due to long-standing traditions.
✔Medicalization of FGM: Some healthcare professionals perform FGM, falsely legitimizing the practice
✔Impact of Crises: Pandemics, climate change, and conflicts increase vulnerability and stall progress.
Strategies for Eradication
- Education and Awareness
✔ Promote comprehensive sexual education and alternative rites of passage.
✔Engage community and religious leaders to shift social norms.
- Strong Legal Frameworks
✔Enforce laws banning FGM and hold perpetrators accountable.
✔Ensure survivors have access to justice and support services.
- Women’s Empowerment
✔Improve access to education and economic opportunities for girls and women.
✔Support survivor-led initiatives that challenge gender discrimination.
- Healthcare Interventions
✔ Train healthcare providers to support FGM survivors.
✔ Expand mental health and reproductive care services.
- Global Collaboration
✔Governments, NGOs, and individuals must work together to share resources and best practices.
✔ International organizations like the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme drive large-scale interventions.
Ending Female Genital Mutilation by 2030
✔FGM is internationally recognized as a human rights violation and a serious threat to health and well-being. While progress has been made, significant challenges remain:
- Over 200 million girls and women have undergone FGM.
- In 2025 alone, nearly 4.4 million girls will be at risk—more than 12,000 cases per day.
A Call to Action
The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation serves as a reminder that FGM is a global issue that requires a global response. While India may not have officially recognized the problem, the voices of survivors and activists make it clear that FGM is a reality for many girls in the country.
It is time for India to acknowledge this silent crisis and take decisive action to protect the rights and dignity of its girls. By enacting laws, raising awareness, and supporting survivors, India can join the global movement to end FGM and ensure that every girl can grow up free from harm and discrimination.
Zero tolerance for FGM is not just a global goal—it is a moral imperative. Let us work together to make it a reality in India and beyond.
References
https://www.scobserver.in/reports/ban-female-genital-mutiliation-sunita-tiwari-union-of-india-writ-petition-summary/
https://www.un.org/en/observances/female-genital-mutilation-day
https://www.unfpa.org/events/international-day-zero-tolerance-female-genital-mutilation
https://undark.org/2021/03/10/india-battle-over-female-genital-mutilation/
