Female genital mutilation is more prevalent than you may think…

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Dear John:

International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) ([link removed]) 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.

Since our founding, Equality Now has been at the forefront of advocating for laws that protect women and girls against FGM and supporting grassroots activists and women’s rights organizations working to eliminate FGM in their communities.
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30 years ago, FGM was seen as a cultural practice, and little was done to stop it. With the help of many partners and the bravery of countless survivors, Equality Now helped usher in a new era and a stronger global response. FGM is now internationally recognized as a gross violation of human rights, a form of violence against women and girls, and a manifestation of gender inequality ([link removed]) , and the United Nations has called for the worldwide elimination of all harmful practices by 2030.

However, we have evidence that women and girls are still experiencing or are at risk of FGM in at least 92 countries. In the United States, nine states have yet to outlaw this harmful practice. According to UNICEF, at least 200 million women and girls alive today have undergone FGM around the world. ([link removed]) Yet efforts to end FGM are still under-resourced and require urgent investment.
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Equality Now is making a difference by:
1. Highlighting FGM as a global issue and urging an increase in resources and investment to end FGM and support survivors.
2. Engaging in strategic litigation to hold governments accountable.
3. Advocating with international and regional human rights mechanisms for nations to take effective action against FGM.
4. Collaborating with partners to call for legal reforms and shift cultural norms in communities where FGM is still practiced.
5. Training journalists on how to sensitively report on FGM.

In a 2022 publication, UNICEF estimated that 73% of women and girls aged 15 to 49 have undergone FGM in the Gambia. As a result of this harmful practice, many women and girls experience severe pain, sepsis, cysts, mental health issues, and more. They might even die. Our work has the potential to change and even save lives, and our impact is visible around the world. ([link removed]) Equality Now partnered with the Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children and joined over 100 other civil society organizations in co-signing an open letter to the government to prevent FGM from being decriminalized in the country. We’re also working with partners in the country to advocate with government stakeholders and parliament members to uphold the existing law.
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This International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, please contribute in honor of the millions of women and girls worldwide who have been impacted by this harmful practice or who may be impacted in the future. We need your help to advocate for laws that will protect women and girls everywhere. Thank you for your support!

In Solidarity,
Divya Srinivasan
Global Lead, End Harmful Practices

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