The Global Challenge of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

An inspirational story of grit and resilience that I encountered on a recent trip to Africa – Rhobi Samwelly is a voice to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

More than 200 million girls and women alive today have been subjected to FGM.

Improving the global understanding of FGM and a concerted, holistic response to ending this harmful practice is something that the World Health Organization (WHO) has been working on.

A recent trip to Tanzania, presented an opportunity to listen firsthand to Rhobi Samwelly, a survivor of FGM at age 13, and Founder of Hope for Girls and Women (Matumaini kwa Wasichana na Wanawake?in Swahili).

A resilient and committed Rhobi runs 2 safe houses in the Butiama and Serengeti Districts of the Mara region of Tanzania to shelter little girls and young women keen to prevent or survive FGM. This is a cause that is very personal to her and one to which she has dedicated her life. I admire how Rhobi has empowered herself with a barbaric, near-death experience and changed the lives of her immediate family, and many of her community and now continues to educate and empower families of girls as young as 6 -17 against the horrendous health risks and mortality risks of FGM. In her efforts to raise awareness about FGM and to educate and empower one and all on the ill effects of this practice, Rhobi has travelled the world. She has spoken at the Houses of Parliament in the UK, been interviewed by the BBC and has spoken at the UN FGM panel. Rhobi was selected by France’s President Macron for the prestigious Marianne Human Rights Defenders Award, in March 2022.

What is FGM? Per the WHO, the partial or complete removal of external female genitalia, or injury to the female genital organs, for non-medical reasons. This practice can cause severe bleeding, infections, later cysts and complications in childbirth. Not to mention a very real risk of death itself. This practice is globally acknowledged as a violation of the rights of women and girls and the violation of the rights of children – most FGM is performed on girls aged 6 years - 17 years

What is the size of the problem? FGM is a global concern. Again, from WHO data, drawn from 30 countries, around 3 million girls are at risk of FGM – annually. In 2008, the World Health Assembly had passed resolution WHA61.16 - on the elimination of FGM. Where it emphasized the need for concerted action in sectors such as health, education, finance, justice and women's affairs. In July 2020, the UN Human Rights Council adopted?resolution 44/16 on the elimination of female genital mutilation. To speed up efforts to reach zero tolerance for FGM by 2030 and to restate the global ban on the harmful practice as it constitutes a serious violation of women’s rights. ?

As I heard Rhobi speak and smile with pride at the vocational and rehabilitation training that she has introduced through her program at Hope For Girls And Women, I admired her grit, her commitment and her focus that has helped her support over 4,000 girls and women over the last > 7 years. The experience of listening firsthand to Rhobi’s talk and life experiences was a reminder to me on the power of grit, gratitude and resilience. And the empathy and ability of humans across the globe to lift each other out of the greatest challenges of our times.

Wishing the very best to Rhobi and to Hope For Girls And Women, as they educate, empower and work to better the lives of girls and women! FGM is not just a woman’s issue – it is a human issue, a global concern.

P.S. Per data from UNICEF, the rate of decline in FGM would need to be 27x faster to meet the target of eliminating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) by 2030. Post Covid-19, an additional 2.2 million girls are likely to face FGM, as a consequence of not having returned to school.