A recent report by the United Nations Children’s Agency has revealed that over 230 million women and girls have undergone female genital mutilation, with the majority residing in Africa.
Within the past eight years alone, approximately 30 million individuals have been subjected to this harmful procedure, which involves the partial or complete removal of external genitalia.
Despite a decline in the percentage of women and girls affected by female genital mutilation, UNICEF cautioned that efforts to eliminate the practice are progressing too slowly to match the rapid growth of populations.
“The practice of female genital mutilation is declining, but not fast enough,” the report said.
Female genital mutilation, a practice erroneously thought to regulate women’s sexuality, poses severe risks, including excessive bleeding and fatalities. Girls undergo this procedure at various stages, from infancy to adolescence.
Over time, it can result in urinary tract infections, menstrual issues, discomfort, reduced sexual fulfilment, and childbirth difficulties. Additionally, it may lead to psychological effects such as depression, diminished self-esteem, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
“We’re also seeing a worrying trend that more girls are subjected to the practice at younger ages, many before their fifth birthday. That further reduces the window to intervene,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
The report highlights that Africa has the highest number of women and girls subjected to female genital mutilation, with approximately 144 million affected. Asia and the Middle East follow, with 80 million and 6 million cases, respectively.
Somalia stands out as the country with the highest prevalence, with 99% of females aged 15 to 49 having undergone the practice.
However, Burkina Faso has made significant strides, reducing the percentage of circumcised women in the same age group from 80% to 30% over a thirty-year period.
Additionally, the report notes that 4 out of every 10 survivors reside in conflict-affected regions with rapid population growth rates, highlighting how political instability hampers efforts to combat the practice and assist victims.
“Ethiopia, Nigeria and Sudan account for the largest numbers of girls and women who have undergone female genital mutilation in conflict-affected countries,” the report said.
While the report acknowledged advancements achieved in certain nations, it cautioned that the global community is not on track to fulfill the United Nations’ objective of eliminating the practice entirely by 2030.
“In some countries, progress would need to be 10 times faster than the best progress observed in history to reach the target by 2030,” said the report.
Nimco Ali, CEO of the Five Foundation, a UK-based charity that fights female genital mutilation, said the UNICEF estimates were “shocking” and “devastating,” and more funding is urgently needed to end the practice.
“We must use the last six years of this decade to finally get to grips with this abhorrent abuse of a girl’s human rights and save the next generation from the horrors of FGM,” the Somali-born activist, author and female genital mutilation survivor said in a press release.