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Around 4.2 million girls at risk for Female Genital Mutilation says Guterres, stressing men must also speak out — Global Issues


António Guterres says that the practice of genital mutilation, common in some cultures for more than a thousand years, causes Lifetime damage to the physical and mental health of women and girls.

‘The evil manifestation of patriarchy’

“It’s one of the most evil manifestations of patriarchy pervading our world,” he added.

With more than four million girls at risk this year alone due to dangerous gender-based violence, urgent investment and action is needed to make it accessible to the world. Sustainable development goals (SDGs) to eliminate female genital mutilation by 2030, the head of the United Nations said.

He added that the practice was “rooted in Gender inequality and complex social norms restrict women’s participation and leadership and limit their access to education and employment.

“This discrimination damage to the whole societyand we need urgent action by the whole of society to put an end to it.”

As part of that, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency UNFPATo be cooperation this year with the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF about the removal of FGM in a themed campaign, Partnering with Men and Boys to Change Gender and Social Norms to End FGM.

The agencies are calling on the international community to promote men’s participation in the dangers of FGM and raise the voice of women and girls.

The ‘Rise’ of Allies Against FGM

Initiatives underway by the United Nations and NGO partners have resulted in “a an increase in male allies such as religious and traditional leaders, health care workers, law enforcement officials, members of civil society, and grassroots organizations,” said the UN, “and has led to remarkable achievements in the protection of women and girls.”

The Secretary-General called on men and boys “everywhere to Join me to speak out and move forward to end female genital mutilation, for the benefit of all.”

The most necessary thing is a committed to social changeand a strong partnership to end FGM, once and for all, he concluded.

The joint UNFPA and UNICEF program to accelerate the elimination of FGM has been in place since 2008, focusing on 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East, and supporting regional and global initiatives.

A ten-year-old girl ran away from home after discovering her family had plans to train her to be an FGM/C practitioner.  She currently lives in a UNICEF safe house in Port Loko, Sierra Leone and is attending school.

© UNICEF/Olivier Asselin

A ten-year-old girl ran away from home after discovering her family had plans to train her to be an FGM/C practitioner. She currently lives in a UNICEF safe house in Port Loko, Sierra Leone and is attending school.

Support for millions

Through the support of the program, more than six million girls and women receive prevention, protection and care serviceswhile about 45 million people have publicly declared their abandonment of the practice of FGM.

According to the annual report of UNFPA FGM report 2021More than 532,000 girls were prevented from undergoing FGM.

However, UNFPA also estimates that there could be as many as two million cases of FGM by 2030 that would otherwise be preventable, given the regressive nature of FGM. COVID-19 pandemic.

There are still cases about a quarter of girls and women worldwide – or 52 million people – experienced FGM performed by healthcare workerspoints out “an alarming trend in the medicalization of female genital mutilation”, according to one UNICEF analysis in 2020.

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