A Human Rights Day call against gender-based violence

As today marks international Human Rights Day, it is a moment to reflect on the commitments made to uphold the rights and dignity of all people, the progress that has been made and the injustices that still demand attention.  

Among some of the most urgent of these injustices is Female genital mutilation, a practice that affects 230 million girls and women worldwide and continues to violate fundamental human rights. 

What is female genital mutilation FGM/C?  

Female genital mutilation (FGM/C) is a form of gender-based violence, which refers to the partial or full cutting or altering of the female genitalia for non-medical reasons.  Despite being practiced for thousands of years across diverse cultures, religions, ethnicities and socioeconomic groups, it remains a human and children’s rights violation.  

FGM/C has no documented health benefits and can increase health complications such as, psychological, reproductive, sexual and social problems, even loss of life. 

FGM/C as a human rights and gender issue  

Through international human rights treaties, FGM/C is understood within a framework that identifies it as a violation of the rights of women and girls. More than 200 million girls and women alive today have gone through some form of FGM/C and a further 68 million are at risk of being mutilated/cut by 2030, a stark reminder of the scale and urgency of this issue. It is also referenced in SDG Goal 5.3, which calls for the elimination of harmful practices, including FGM and child marriage.  

Save the Children’s Country director in Sudan, stated: “FGM is not only a violation of girl’s rights, but it also has serious consequences for a girl’s physical and mental health. Introducing a national law is a great step towards eradicating the practice entirely.” This was published after Sudan had passed a law to criminalise FGM/C in 2020. Laws like this mark progress, but legal reform alone is not enough. Cultural, social and economic drivers of FGM/C must also be addressed to achieve sustainable change. 

Recent developments in legislation  

Some countries have taken steps to end FGM/C and advance gender equality. These developments show both progress and the fragility of the commitments made. A few examples include: 

The Gambia’s Women’s Amendment Act 2015 criminalises female genital mutilation in The Gambia. In 2024, a Private Member’s Bill sought to repeal this ban, but the Gambian Parliament rejected the proposal in July 2024, keeping the prohibition in place. This is a reminder that legal progress must be actively safeguarded. 

Kenya has a law, the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2011, which defines FGM/C and criminalises offences committed abroad by Kenyan citizens or residents. This law is supported by enforcement efforts and community-led campaigns to end FGM. 

Sierra Leone currently does not explicitly criminalise FGM/C legally. In July 2025, the ECOWAS Court of Justice ruled that this legal gap violates their regional human rights obligations. Awareness and civil society advocacy is growing, yet legal reform remains overdue. 

Somalia’s provisional constitution prohibits FGM/C as a harmful traditional practice, but the country still lacks a fully enacted national law explicitly criminalising FGM/C. Some progress occurred at the state level in Galmudug, showing that momentum is growing and efforts are steadily advancing. 

United Kingdom, Although FGM/C has been illegal in the UK since 1985, with the legislation strengthened under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003, the practice persists within some diaspora and migrant communities. As FGM/C occurs beyond traditional high prevalence regions, global attention and targeted prevention efforts are needed both in countries of origin and destination. 

Approaches that can drive change  

Growing research on gender-transformative approaches to gender-based violence and integrating these strategies into FGM/C prevention programming demonstrates the importance of reshaping power and moving beyond condemnation, to work actively to address the underlying causes. 

1. Supporting those impacted by FGM/C: Women and girls affected by FGM/C need access to the right informed medical care, informed support and safe spaces to heal and talk about their experiences. Healing and women’s empowerment are central to breaking cycles of silence. 

2. Investing in education and awareness: Comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education helps in shifting attitudes and behaviours, encouraging knowledge about bodily autonomy, consent and the consequences of this practice.  

3. Engaging Communities: 
   • Working with community and health workers to educate families and local leaders on the health risks and rights violations associated with FGM. 
   • This involves working with religious and traditional leaders to challenge harmful gender norms, to help ease societal resistance and supporting communities to lead the change, while respecting their cultural identity. 
   • Supporting cutters and practitioners, often women who depend on the practice for income or cultural beliefs, to find sustainable alternative livelihoods. 

4. Strengthen legal and policy frameworks: Introducing national laws and closing legal gaps. Cross-border collaboration is necessary to address FGM/C in migrant and diaspora communities. 

5. Amplifying local voices: Community based leadership, especially from women and the youth, is important to lead efforts in their communities. Lived experiences are essential in driving locally relevant solutions. 

The broader human rights landscape  

As we mark International Human Rights Day, we should not forget that female genital mutilation does not exist in isolation. It links to wider human rights issues such as child marriage, poverty, limited access to education and gender-based violence. Recent reforms like Colombia’s 2025 ban on child marriage show progress, but these intersecting challenges still compound the barriers girls and women face in exercising their rights.  

Advocates, feminist leaders and communities have brought crucial attention to this issue and young people are driving powerful change as harmful norms are re-examined and rejected. Yet as long as FGM/C continues to be practiced, the global promise of human rights and gender equality remains unfulfilled. 

Turning commitment into action  

Sustaining progress remains fragile. Continued advocacy and collaboration are essential to ensure lasting change, collaborating alongside communities and supporting local leadership, rather than approaching the issue from a position of moral authority. 

Human Rights Day reminds us that rights are universal, but universality means nothing if millions of girls cannot access them. Change comes from working at all levels and with everyone involved. More must be done to ensure women’s and girls’ rights are not only protected in law but upheld in everyday life. The gender-transformative work led by survivors, activists and communities reminds us of our shared responsibility to uphold human rights and support the wellbeing of women and girls everywhere, so no one is left behind. 

Here are a few organisations working towards ending FGM/C: 

• The Girl Generation - A global collective that works to accelerate positive changes in social attitudes towards ending female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). Their broader vision is of a world where girls and women can fully exercise their power and rights, with expanded choice and agency.  

• Women of Grace - A UK based survivor-led charity grounded in community outreach, education and support services that address FGM/C and honour-based violence. They raise awareness, provide trauma informed care and build resilient support networks at the grassroots.  

• Frontline Ending FGM – An African led network that supports grassroots activists directly, making sure funding and strategic support reach local leaders in the fight to end FGM/C. Their model includes training survivors and community leaders, media campaigns and locally tailored interventions.  

• Foundation for Women’s Health, Research and Development – UK based and founded in 1983. FORWARD supports women who have experienced FGM/C and works to eliminate the practice. They combine advocacy, research and community support across the UK and parts of Africa.  

• Save a girl save a generation - A non-governmental organisation fighting against FGM, exploitation of minors, forms of abuse and forced marriage. Founded and led by women who were themselves denied the right to speak, the organisation now seeks to defend the rights of young girls. 

If you are in an emergency or if you or know someone is at an immediate risk of violence or FGM/C, call the police on 999. If you are unable to talk, you can make a Silent Call from your mobile to the police by dialling 999, then 55. You can also call the NSPCC FGM helpline on 08000283550 or email [email protected]