The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has expressed concerns that cross-border movements are significantly hindering global efforts to eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM). This practice, which involves altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons, poses immediate health risks such as infection and HIV transmission, as well as long-term psychological impacts including anxiety and depression. Recent reports indicate that approximately 4.3 million girls were at risk of undergoing FGM in 2023, with the practice affecting over 600,000 women within the European Union.
According to a statement from the OHCHR, FGM often occurs across borders, especially when families move to countries where the practice is either less regulated or legally permissible. The scarcity of traditional practitioners, known as “cutters,” in some regions further drives cross-border FGM procedures. The report emphasizes the lack of comprehensive data and calls for improved documentation to facilitate the development of targeted policies aimed at protecting those at risk.
The practice of FGM contravenes multiple international legal standards, including the right to non-discrimination under Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the right to physical dignity under Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Highlighting the severity of FGM, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated that the practice must be eliminated entirely and that the gender stereotypes and patriarchal norms perpetuating it must be uprooted.
In a related report from March, coinciding with International Women’s Day, UNICEF revealed that over 230 million girls and women globally have been subjected to FGM, marking a 15 percent increase compared to 2016 data. Specific challenges were noted in countries like Somalia and Sudan, where ongoing conflict and population growth complicate eradication efforts, and in Ethiopia, where climate shocks and food insecurity pose additional hurdles. Despite these issues, Ethiopia has made noteworthy progress in combating FGM.
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