Purpose: The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is observed on 6 February, to promote the elimination of female genital mutilation, coordinated and systematic efforts are needed, and they must engage whole communities and focus on human rights, gender equality, sexual education and attention to the needs of women and girls who suffer from its consequences. In 2008, the World Health Assembly passed resolution WHA61.16 on the elimination of FGM, emphasizing the need for concerted action in all sectors - health, education, finance, justice and women's affairs.
FORUM: "Her Voice. Her Future. Investing in Survivor-Led Movements to End FGM." International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2024. While progress has been made, there’s much more to be done. Indeed, this progress needs to be at least 10 times faster to meet the global target of ending female genital mutilation by the year 2030. Women-led and survivor-led organizations, especially at the grassroots level, have an in-depth understanding of the challenges that women and girls face and are vital resources on how to advance their rights. With that in mind, the theme of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation this year is: “Her Voice. Her Future. Investing in Survivor-Led Movements to End Female Genital Mutilation.” For more than a decade, the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme has supported survivors and prioritized investments in survivor-led initiatives. There are now more than 200 million survivors. Share with the world how #HerVoiceMatters in leading the #EndFGM movement. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #6February, #EndFGM.
EVENTS: The UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation launched the 2024 theme. Join us online on February 6th, to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2024. in amplifying survivors’ voices and investing in survivor-led movements. The leadership of women and girls is key to accelerating progress, as well as to contributing to equitable social and economic development and ensuring that no girl or woman is left behind.
STATEMENTS: The United Nations Secretary-General on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2024; February 6th. and the Joint Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem and UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2024.
Actions and Efforts include:
developing guidelines, tools, training and policy to ensure that health professionals can provide medical care and counselling to girls and women living with FGM;
building evidence about the causes and consequences of the practice, including why health care professionals carry out procedures;
strengthening person-centered communications and personal skills needed by nurses and midwives to communicate effectively, empathically and in a sensitive way when discussing FGM and offering prevention services;
developing publications and advocacy tools for international, regional and local efforts to end FGM, including tools for policy makers and advocates to estimate the health burden of FGM and the potential public health benefits and cost savings of preventing FGM.
PODCASTS : This year, nearly 4.4 million girls – more than 12,000 a day – are at risk around the world. Unless efforts to end this practice intensify, the number of girls at risk is projected to rise to 4.6 million in 2030. An estimated $2.75 billion is needed to end the practice by 2030 in 31 priority countries. Female genital mutilation limits opportunities for women and girls around the world to exercise their rights and realize their full potential. The WHO have launched a training manual on person-centered communication (PCC), a counselling approach that encourages health care providers to challenge their FGM-related attitudes and build their communication skills to effectively provide FGM prevention counselling. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
Campaign Materials: Female genital mutilation, which involves the altering or injuring of female genitalia for no medical reason, can cause health complications including severe infection, chronic pain, depression, infertility and death. Internationally recognized as a human rights violation, it has been practiced by societies across the ages. Join our online campaign "Her Voice. Her Future. Investing in Survivor-Led Movements to End FGM." on social media. Get the campaign package here.
WHY WE CELEBRATE IT?
According to available data from 30 countries where FGM is practiced in the Western, Eastern, and North-Eastern regions of Africa, and some countries in the Middle East and Asia, more than 200 million girls and women alive today have been subjected to the practice with more than 3 million girls estimated to be at risk of FGM annually. FGM is therefore of global concern.
ACTIONS
To promote the abandonment of FGM, coordinated and systematic efforts are needed, and they must engage whole communities and focus on human rights and gender equality. They must also address the sexual and reproductive health needs of women and girls who suffer from its consequences. We can no longer wait, we must UNITE, FUND and ACT to end female genital mutilation.
PARTNERS
Building on work from previous decades, in 1997, the World Health Oganization (WHO) issued a joint statement against the practice of FGM together with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Make a donation.
Ensure that girls and women living with FGM receive quality medical care and counselling, as well to develop evidence and advocacy tools to support efforts to prevent FGM