What's happened
Multiple countries face ongoing challenges in eradicating female genital mutilation (FGM). Despite legal reforms, social norms, conflict, and economic hardship hinder progress. Campaigns, religious clarifications, and community engagement are key strategies, but entrenched traditions and war threaten to reverse gains made in countries like Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Iraq. Today marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance.
What's behind the headline?
The persistence of FGM highlights the deep-rooted cultural and social norms that sustain it, despite legal bans and awareness campaigns. The recent setbacks in Sudan, where health infrastructure is collapsing due to war, exemplify how conflict directly undermines health and human rights initiatives. Religious leaders' clarifications that FGM is not Islamic are crucial, yet entrenched traditions and economic incentives, such as traditional midwives performing FGM for income, complicate eradication efforts. The global community must intensify support for grassroots activism and health system rebuilding to prevent a resurgence, especially in fragile states. The upcoming years will determine whether these efforts can outpace the social and economic forces that sustain FGM.
What the papers say
The New Arab reports that enforcement of anti-FGM laws remains weak, with practices often occurring in secret, especially in Iraqi Kurdistan where traditional and religious beliefs persist. All Africa highlights survivor stories and community dialogues in Tanzania, emphasizing the importance of survivor leadership and religious clarifications, such as the fatwa in Guinea and legal reforms in Djibouti. The Sudanese context is more dire, with ongoing conflict dismantling health services and risking a reversal of progress, as detailed by the UN and local NGOs. France 24 discusses innovative health initiatives like Kenya's Boda Girls, but also underscores the persistent threat of social violence like witch-hunting in India, illustrating how social norms and conflict continue to threaten health and human rights worldwide.
How we got here
Efforts to combat FGM have been ongoing for decades, with legal reforms, community campaigns, and religious clarifications playing key roles. Countries like Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya have seen some decline, but conflict and social norms continue to sustain the practice. Campaigns focus on education, legal enforcement, and community dialogue, yet war and poverty threaten to undo these gains.
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Common question
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What is the current status of efforts to end female genital mutilation (FGM)?
Despite decades of global campaigns, efforts to eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM) continue to face significant challenges. While some countries have made progress through legal reforms, community engagement, and religious clarifications, entrenched social norms, conflict, and economic hardship still hinder complete eradication. Understanding the current landscape helps us see where progress is being made and what obstacles remain in the fight against FGM.
More on these topics
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Female genital mutilation, also known as female genital cutting, female genital mutilation/cutting, and female circumcision, is the ritual cutting or removal of some or all of the external female genitalia.