As the world observes the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on February 6, 2026, advocates and organizations are amplifying efforts to eradicate the harmful practice. World Vision Kenya reiterated today that FGM, which involves non-medical alteration of female genitalia, inflicts severe physical, psychological, and reproductive harm across generations.
Globally, over 200 million women and girls have undergone FGM, with prevalence concentrated in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. While progress has been made—including legislative bans in 92 countries as of this year—activists stress that grassroots education and economic empowerment remain critical to shifting cultural norms.
In Asia, targeted campaigns in high-risk regions like Indonesia’s Papua and India’s Dawoodi Bohra community have seen reduced rates since 2023, according to UNICEF data. However, cross-border advocacy groups warn that climate-driven migration and economic instability could reverse gains if not addressed through regional cooperation.
Dr. Amina Farah, a Nairobi-based gender rights specialist, told KhabarAsia: "This year’s theme—‘Her Voice, Her Future’—reminds us that survivors must lead the conversation. When communities hear firsthand accounts of trauma, abandonment of the practice accelerates."
As part of 2026 initiatives, the African Union and ASEAN are jointly funding mobile health clinics in rural areas to provide alternative rites of passage ceremonies, replacing FGM with educational workshops.
