Since 2012, every 6 February, we celebrate the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The aim is to inform and mobilize the whole word about these practices in order to eliminate them.
This year, the theme is "Unleashing Youth Power: One decade of accelerating actions for zero female genital mutilation".
Why? Because the world is experiencing significant population growth, and it therefore seems indispensable to educate and mobilize younger generations. The aim is to end the FGM in one decade, that is to say before 2030.
But what is female genital mutilation, usually known as FGM?
This term defines all “the procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights, the health and the integrity of girls and women". This Millennial custom is practiced mainly in 30 countries in Africa and the Middle East, but there are also many cases in immigrant populations living in Western Europe and North America. Although concentrated in some parts of the planet, this problem is universal. In fact, it should not be forgotten that these practices are considered to be a violation of the human rights of women and girls.
And for good reason, because the FGM generate short-term as well as long-term complications for women and girls victims. "Severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infections, and difficulty in passing urine" but also "long-term consequences for their sexual and reproductive health and mental health".
Act fast to end these practices is therefore more than important and we are all concerned. Moreover, eliminating such practices is part of the fifth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals: Gender Equality.
Since 2008, the United Nations Fund For Population Activities (UNFPA) as well as the UNICEF lead a programme to accelerate the elimination of FGM. Thanks to this programme more than 3.3 million girls and women have benefited from protection and care services. Also,13 countries have established a legal framework to prohibit and condemn this practice
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10 years. This is the time, hopefully, to eliminate these acts of violence. Continue our efforts, we are all concerned.