FGM is global, together we can end it: Reflecting on this month’s activism against FGM

It’s been just three weeks since the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a day that gives countries, international organizations, and community-based nonprofits the opportunity to raise awareness about a harmful practice that continues to impact millions of women and girls worldwide.

This edition of The Equality Now Dispatch is packed with updates from our work to end this human rights violation worldwide.?

Three FGM-linked deaths in Sierra Leone

Last month, three girls lost their lives to FGM rituals in Sierra Leone. And despite 83% of women and girls in the country having undergone the cut, Sierra Leone is one of only four countries in Africa where FGM is prevalent, which is yet to pass a specific law prohibiting it.?

>> Forum against Harmful Practices and Equality Now spoke to The Guardian earlier this month, calling on the Government of Sierra Leone to enact a law against this harmful practice .

>> This week, together with our partners Forum Against Harmful Practices and Not In My Name (SL) , we’ve launched a petition calling for urgent action from the Government of Sierra Leone.

Continued FGM amidst conflict and displacement in Sudan

Although Sudan legally banned the practice of FGM in 2020 , women and girls continue to face heightened risks of violence, exploitation, and abuse, including FGM. Ongoing conflict has led to the breakdown of the rule of law and governance structures in Khartoum and a few other states.?

Additionally, in the chaos of displacement, traditional practices may persist, perpetuating the cycle of FGM and denying women and girls agency over their bodies and futures.

>> Equality Now’s MENA Gender Advisor, Paleki Ayang , wrote about the need for action in her latest Op-Ed for IPS Inter Press Service ?

South Asia fails to take action against FGM despite growing numbers

Although significant progress has been made in curbing FGM in Africa, the practice continues to occur in at least ten countries in Asia . In recent years, the UN, through its international human rights treaty bodies and other human rights mechanisms, has provided recommendations to Asian countries, such as India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and the Maldives, to address FGM and pass specific laws for prohibition. Yet, no country in Asia has a law banning it.

2024 will mark 30 years since the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) was first held in 1994. The anniversary marks a significant milestone in the area of advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and girls globally. Ending FGM is a key component of this, and to effectively implement global commitments to achieve this, global efforts must focus on Asia as a priority.

>> Read more from Nawmi Naz Chowdhury , Global Legal Advisor at Equality Now, in IPS Inter Press Service from earlier this month ?

Protecting anti-FGM legislation in The Gambia

The Gambia stands at a critical juncture in its fight against FGM, where 3 out of 4 girls undergo this practice before age 6. Despite decades of progress through the Women’s (Amendment) Act 2015, a proposed repeal bill looms in The Gambia’s Parliament, announced on February 6th, the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM. The bill would undermine the rights of women and girls by removing the legal protection against FGM.

>> Read this opinion piece by Faiza Mohamed, Africa Regional Director at Equality Now, and Isatou Touray, GAMCOTRAP’s Executive Director and former Vice President of The Gambia, emphasizing the importance of upholding the Women’s (Amendment) Act 2015 outlawing FGM.

Supporting the first fiction film on FGM in Asia?

As part of our Zero Tolerance Day efforts, we were proud to announce the upcoming launch of 'The Beginning', the first fiction film on FGM/C from the Asian continent written and directed by Insia Dariwala . The film seeks to demonstrate the trauma and impact caused by FGM/C and adopts a survivor-centered approach to show how and why the practice must be stopped.

>> Watch and share the trailer .

FGM is Global: Together, we can end it

We continue to call for collaboration among NGOs, policymakers, community leaders, and individuals across the globe to intensify efforts for eradicating FGM. The time for policymakers to act is now – formulating and enforcing laws against FGM and safeguarding the lives of young girls.

>> Explore our resources on FGM, including reports, factsheets, journalist toolkits, and submissions, and join us in advocating against this harmful practice.

Join us at CSW68

Many of our colleagues will be at CSW68 at the UN from March 11, speaking at and hosting a number of events on issues from economic equality to ending sexual violence. If you’ll be there too, here’s where you’ll find them.