Last updated on December 1st, 2025 at 03:35 pm
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), also known as female genital cutting (FGC), remains one of the most severe violations of human rights affecting girls and women today. Recent data from UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Bank reveals a stark reality: an estimated 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM.
This article provides an in-depth analysis of FGM, exploring its definitions, global statistics, specific cultural case studies like the Dogon community, and the ongoing international efforts to end this harmful practice.
Table of Contents
What is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), FGM comprises all procedures involving the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women.
The Four Types of FGM
WHO classifies FGM into four distinct categories:
- Type I (Clitoridectomy): Partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the prepuce.
- Type II (Excision): Partial or total removal of the clitoris and labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora.
- Type III (Infibulation): The narrowing of the vaginal orifice with a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and appositioning the labia minora and/or the labia majora, with or without excision of the clitoris.
- Type IV: All other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, such as pricking, piercing, incising, scraping, and cauterization.
Global Prevalence: The Data by Country
While FGM is often associated with the African continent, data confirms it is a global concern. The practice is concentrated in Western, Eastern, and North-Eastern Africa, as well as parts of the Middle East (e.g., Iraq, Yemen) and Asia (e.g., Indonesia). Migration has also brought FGM to Europe, North America, and Australia.
Key Statistics (UNICEF & World Bank)
Prevalence rates vary drastically by region. In some nations, the practice is near-universal, while in others, it is becoming rare.
| Country | Prevalence (Ages 15-49) | Notes |
| Somalia | 99.2% | Highest prevalence globally. |
| Guinea | 94.5% | Extremely high prevalence. |
| Djibouti | 90.1% | Nearly universal practice. |
| Mali | 88.6% | Deeply entrenched in cultural norms (see Dogon case study below). |
| Egypt | 87.2% | High prevalence, despite legal bans. |
| Sierra Leone | 83% | Significant medical and social concern. |
| Uganda | 0.3% | Low prevalence, showing successful reduction efforts. |
| Cameroon | ~1% | Low overall prevalence. |
Trends: While there has been an overall decline in FGM over the last three decades, population growth in high-prevalence countries means the absolute number of girls undergoing the procedure is rising. UNICEF estimates that 27 million more girls could be served by 2030 if prevention efforts are not accelerated.
Perception of female genital mutilation (FGM)
According to the Dugong religion, human beings are born in the ‘twin-birth’, meaning in men there exists a female soul as well as in a woman exists a male soul. This theory of ‘double-sex birth’ compels a human being to attain a ‘single-sexed’ state to be identified as male or female. Without singling out the sex identity one is simply known as a ‘hermaphrodite’ in the outer world.
Why is FGM Practiced? A Cultural Analysis
FGM is sustained by a complex mix of social, cultural, and religious factors. It is often seen as a rite of passage, a prerequisite for marriage, or a way to ensure chastity.
Case Study: The Dogon Community in Mali
The specific cultural implications drivers within the Dogon (or Dogong) community in Mali, a group known for high social cohesion and tradition.
Persistence: In communities like the Dogon, FGM is not done out of malice but out of a desire to integrate the child into society. This makes eradication difficult, as it requires changing fundamental spiritual beliefs..
The “Twin-Birth” Belief: The Dogon cosmology believes human beings are born with a “twin soul”—a male soul in a female body and vice versa.
Restoring Identity: The clitoris is viewed as a “male” part, and the foreskin as a “female” part. To restore a single, definitive gender identity, these parts are removed through circumcision.
Social Cohesion: Despite being a violation of rights, the practice is deeply woven into the community’s fabric, reinforced by elders and traditional leaders (such as the Ogotemmeli figures described by anthropologists).
Scenario
According to UNICEF’s Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting 2018 in 29 countries, there are 125 million girls and women undergone FGM/C. With 29 and 23 million-plus victims, Egypt and Ethiopia remain on top.
UNICEF says, “Female genital mutilation, also known as ‘female genital cutting’ or ‘female circumcision’, refers to “all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
Health Consequences and Human Rights
FGM has no health benefits and causes severe physical and psychological harm.
Immediate and Long-Term Health Risks
- Immediate: Severe pain, excessive bleeding (haemorrhage), shock, genital tissue swelling, and infections (including tetanus and HIV).
- Long-term: Chronic urinary problems, vaginal infections, keloids (scar tissue), and severe complications during childbirth (such as postpartum haemorrhage and stillbirth).
- Psychological: Anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and loss of trust in caregivers.
A Violation of Human Rights
FGM violates several international treaties:
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Right to health and bodily integrity.
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Protection from harmful traditional practices.
- Convention against Torture: In many interpretations, FGM constitutes torture or cruel, inhuman treatment.
The Challenge of Medicalization
A concerning trend identified by UNICEF is the medicalization of FGM, where the procedure is performed by healthcare providers (doctors, nurses, midwives).
- Approximately 1 in 4 FGM survivors (52 million women) were cut by health personnel.
- Medicalization violates medical ethics (“Do No Harm”) and risks legitimizing the practice by giving the impression that it is “safe.” FGM is never safe, regardless of who performs it.
The Path Forward: Education and Collective Abandonment
Ending FGM requires a multi-faceted approach involving legal bans, education, and community dialogue.
- Collective Abandonment: Programs led by UNICEF and UNFPA focus on entire communities deciding together to end the practice. This prevents families from fearing social ostracization if they do not cut their daughters.
- Men and Boys: Opposition to FGM is growing among men. In Ethiopia, for example, 87% of men and boys oppose the practice. Engaging men is crucial to breaking the cycle.
- Education: Education is a powerful vaccine. Girls with a secondary education are significanty less likely to support or undergo FGM compared to those with no education.
Conclusion
FGM is a global crisis fueled by deep-rooted inequalities and cultural traditions. While progress is being made—with a girl today being one-third less likely to undergo FGM than 30 years ago—the pace must accelerate.
Protecting the next generation requires not just laws, but a fundamental shift in how communities define maturity, identity, and the rights of women.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many women are affected by FGM globally?
A: An estimated 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation.
Q: Which country has the highest rate of FGM?
A: Somalia has the highest prevalence, with approximately 99.2% of women and girls aged 15-49 having undergone the procedure.
Q: Is FGM a religious requirement?
A: No. FGM is not endorsed by religious texts of Islam or Christianity, though it is often practiced by communities who believe it is a religious requirement. It is a cultural practice that predates these major religions.
Q: What is the “medicalization” of FGM?
A: Medicalization refers to situations where FGM is performed by healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses). This is condemned by the WHO as it violates medical ethics and legitimizes a harmful practice.
