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Dear John,
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.
It’s been a busy month, and as a valued supporter of our work, I wanted to share updates from our work to end this human rights violation around the world.
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Three FGM-linked deaths in Sierra Leone
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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 News.
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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. |
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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.
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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.
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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.
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>> We invite you to explore our resources on FGM, including reports, factsheets, journalist toolkits, and submissions, and join us in advocating against this harmful practice.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our work to protect the rights of women and girls around the world.
In solidarity
Divya Srinivasan
Global Lead, Ending Harmful Practices
Equality Now
PS: Many of my 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.
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