Accelerate actions aimed at the elimination of FGM, including providing education and information to support full understanding of the gender, health and human rights dimensions of FGM,

Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve the partial or total removal of external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons; the procedure has no health benefits. It is estimated that over 230 million women and girls are living with the effects of FGM. Although it is internationally recognized as a violation of human rights – and legislation to prohibit the practice has been put in place in many countries – evidence from population-based studies from 31 countries suggests that the practice is still prevalent in many countries in Africa and several in Asia and the Middle East. The rise in international migration has also increased the number of women and girls living in the various diaspora populations, including in Europe, North America and Australia, who have undergone or may be at risk of the practice. In May 2008, the World Health Assembly issued Resolution 61.16, which urged Member States to accelerate actions aimed at the elimination of FGM, including providing education and information to support full understanding of the gender, health and human rights dimensions of FGM, as well as enacting and enforcing legislation to protect women and girls from all forms of violence, particularly FGM, by any person, including health professionals. In December 2012, the United Nations General Assembly issued Resolution 67/146 to intensify efforts to eliminate FGM, referring to it as a practice that is “an irreparable, irreversible abuse that impacts negatively on the human rights of women and girls” One consistent and powerful theme in both of these resolutions is a call for global recognition of FGM as a denial of girls’ and women’s ability to fully exercise their human rights and to be free from discrimination and violence, and from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

These resolutions, along with Elimination of female genital mutilation: an interagency statement, which was co-signed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and nine other United Nations partner agencies and published in 2008, provided the impetus to develop evidence-based tools, resources and normative guidance to support multisectoral efforts to protect and support women and girls who have been subjected to FGM or are at risk of the practice. In particular, this includes implementing care and support services to address the sexual and reproductive health of women and girls who have been subjected to the practice; and developing and implementing comprehensive and integrated strategies for FGM prevention, including the training of social workers, health workers, community and religious leaders and other relevant professionals to ensure that they provide competent and supportive care and services to women and girls who are at risk of or who have undergone FGM. Since the release of the interagency statement and the resolutions, significant efforts have been made to counteract FGM, through (i) research to generate further evidence on both policy and health interventions; (ii) working with communities on prevention strategies; (iii) advocacy; and (iv) creating an enabling legal environment.