In Ethiopia's Afar region and across the globe, survivors of female genital mutilation like Khadija, Zahra and Abida are driving change in their communities. They want to help end this and other harmful practices like child marriage to open up new prospects for health, education and empowerment for women and girls.
Twenty-five years ago, the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action called on all countries to take steps to eliminate female genital mutilation. Since then female genital mutilation has been declining, but not fast enough.
In the 30 countries that systematically collect data on the practice, female genital mutilation affects about 1 in 3 girls aged 15-19, down from about 1 in 2 in the mid-1980s. But where female genital mutilation is most prevalent, populations are growing – and along with them, the number of girls at risk. At current rates, 68 million girls worldwide will be cut by 2030.
The upcoming Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 offers a unique opportunity to renewed global commitments to end harmful practices that perpetuate gender inequality and violate the human rights of women and girls such as female genital mutilation.
All views are those of the original author. #SeeAPieceOfMe and learn more about UNFPA's campaign to eliminate female genital mutilation at www.unfpa.org/APieceOfMe.
