As the world marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation in February 2026, the global community stands at a precarious crossroads. While decades of advocacy have yielded historic gains, a sobering reality remains: in this year alone, approximately 4.5 million girls are at risk of being subjected to this harmful practice. Many of these children are under the age of five, facing a procedure that offers no health benefits and serves only to violate their fundamental human rights. Today, more than 230 million women and girls across the globe are living with the lifelong physical and psychological scars of female genital mutilation (FGM), a figure that underscores the staggering scale of a crisis that the United Nations and global leaders are determined to end by the decade’s close.
The practice of FGM is not merely a cultural tradition or a localized health issue; it is a profound violation of the bodily integrity and autonomy of women and girls. It is a procedure that involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. The consequences are often catastrophic, ranging from immediate risks such as severe pain, shock, hemorrhage, and infection, to long-term complications including chronic pain, cysts, infertility, increased risk of childbirth complications, and fatal newborn distress. Beyond the physical trauma, the mental health toll—including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression—can persist for a lifetime, altering the trajectory of a survivor’s life and her ability to participate fully in society.
The economic burden of this practice is equally daunting. It is estimated that the global cost of treating the health complications resulting from FGM amounts to roughly USD 1.4 billion annually. This is a staggering drain on healthcare systems, particularly in developing nations where resources are already stretched thin. However, the economic narrative is not just one of loss, but of potential. Experts argue that every dollar invested in the prevention of FGM yields a tenfold return. A strategic investment of USD 2.8 billion between now and 2030 could prevent an estimated 20 million cases, generating a massive USD 28 billion in economic returns by allowing girls to stay in school, enter the workforce, and lead healthy, productive lives.
Despite the gravity of the current situation, the story of the last thirty years is one of remarkable resilience and shifting mindsets. Interventions aimed at dismantling the foundations of FGM are proving effective. In countries where the practice is most prevalent, nearly two-thirds of the population now express support for its total elimination. This shift in public opinion is the engine driving a rapid acceleration in progress. In fact, half of all the gains made against FGM since 1990 have been achieved in just the last ten years. This momentum has seen the prevalence of the practice drop from one in two girls to one in three. While this progress is heartening, it serves as a reminder that the goal of total eradication by 2030—a key target of the Sustainable Development Goals—is within reach only if the global community refuses to grow complacent.
The roadmap to elimination is well-defined, built on a foundation of community-led strategies and multifaceted interventions. Success depends on health education that empowers families with facts, and the active engagement of those who hold the most influence in traditional societies: religious and community leaders, parents, and healthcare workers. By leveraging both traditional and social media, advocates are successfully rewriting the narrative surrounding FGM, replacing outdated justifications with a modern understanding of human rights and health.
Crucially, the movement to end FGM must be fueled from within. This means investing heavily in grassroots organizations and youth networks that understand the specific cultural nuances of their communities. Formal education in schools must be paired with community-based outreach to ensure that the message of prevention reaches every household. Involving trusted opinion leaders, particularly health workers, is vital for amplifying these messages. Furthermore, for the 230 million survivors already living with the aftermath of FGM, there must be a robust support system. This includes access to comprehensive, context-tailored healthcare, specialized psychosocial support to address trauma, and legal assistance to ensure that those who violate the law are held accountable.
However, as the 2030 deadline approaches, new and dangerous hurdles are emerging. There is a growing and systematic pushback against elimination efforts, often manifesting in the “medicalization” of FGM. This involves the dangerous and fallacious argument that the practice should be carried out by doctors or trained health workers in clinical settings to “reduce harm.” Global leaders and health experts have been clear: medicalization does not make FGM safe, nor does it make it any less of a human rights violation. It merely legitimizes a harmful practice and undermines the ultimate goal of total abandonment.
Furthermore, the progress achieved over the last three decades is currently under threat from a significant decline in international support and funding. As global priorities shift and economic pressures mount, funding for health, education, and child protection programs—the very pillars required to fight FGM—is being scaled back. Without adequate, predictable, and sustained financing, community outreach programs are at risk of being dismantled, frontline services for survivors are being weakened, and the hard-won gains of the past decade could be reversed.
The call to action in 2026 is one of renewed commitment. The push to meet the 2030 target is at a critical juncture. To falter now would be to abandon millions of girls to a future of preventable pain and trauma. The UN and its partners are calling for a surge in investment and a fortification of political will. The goal is not just to reduce the numbers, but to foster a world where every girl, regardless of where she is born, can grow up free from the threat of violence and with her dignity and rights intact.
The fight against female genital mutilation is a fight for the future. It is a movement that requires the participation of everyone—from private sector partners and global policymakers to local activists and survivors themselves. Survivors, in particular, play a pivotal role as advocates and leaders, using their voices to break the silence and ensure that no other girl has to endure what they went through. By standing in solidarity with these women and girls, the international community can ensure that 2026 is remembered not as a year of continued risk, but as the year the world finally turned the tide for good.
As we look toward 2030, the mission is clear: we must protect the 4.5 million girls currently at risk and support the hundreds of millions of women already living with the consequences of this practice. Through sustained investment, community empowerment, and an unwavering refusal to accept anything less than total elimination, a future free from female genital mutilation is not just a dream—it is a mandatory reality. The time for half-measures has passed; the time for a final, decisive push is now.
