International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation 2026: Theme, History, Global Impact & Quiz

“Together, we can eliminate female genital mutilation by 2030. Doing so will have a positive ripple effect on the health, education and economic advancement of girls and women.” – António Guterres

Every year on 6 February, the world observes the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). This day raises awareness about the urgent need to eliminate a practice that violates the fundamental rights, dignity, and health of millions of girls and women worldwide.

What is Female Genital Mutilation?

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) refers to all procedures that intentionally alter, remove, or injure the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. According to the World Health Organization, FGM is internationally recognized as a violation of human rights and a serious threat to the health, dignity, and physical integrity of girls and women. It has no medical benefits and can lead to severe short-term and long-term health complications.

Short-Term Health Complications of FGM

Girls who undergo Female Genital Mutilation often face immediate and life-threatening health risks, including:

• Severe pain and shock
• Excessive bleeding (hemorrhage)
• Infections and impaired wound healing
• Genital tissue swelling
• Difficulty passing urine
• Increased risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) transmission
• Psychological trauma and emotional distress

These complications can occur within hours or days of the procedure and may require urgent medical care.

Long-Term Effects of Female Genital Mutilation

The long-term consequences of FGM can significantly impact a woman’s sexual health, reproductive health, and mental well-being. These include:

• Chronic menstrual problems
• Keloids and scar tissue formation
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Anxiety and depression
• Decreased sexual desire and reduced sexual pleasure
• Obstetric complications during pregnancy and childbirth

FGM not only endangers physical health but also affects emotional stability, marital relationships, and overall quality of life.

Why Ending FGM Is Critical

Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation is essential to protecting girls’ rights, promoting gender equality, and improving global public health. Raising awareness about the health risks of FGM, strengthening legal protections, and supporting survivors are key steps toward ending this harmful practice permanently.

Facts about Female Genital Mutilation

• FGM is an inhuman and degrading violation of the human rights of girls and women.
•  It is estimated that to date at least 200 million girls and women globally alive today have undergone some form of FGM.
• Female genital mutilation among girls aged fourteen and younger constitute 44 million of the population of those who have been cut.
• Gambia has the highest prevalence of FGM among younger girls at 56%, then Mauritania at 54% and Indonesia where around half of the girls aged eleven and younger have undergone this practice.
• Somalia has the highest prevalence of FGM among girls and women aged fifteen and above at 98%, second stands Guinea at 97% and Djibouti 93%.
• Sudan, where the most severe type of FGM is performed, had criminalized FGM last year.

International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation 2026 Theme

The 2026 theme for the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, “No End To FGM Without Sustained Commitment and Investment,” highlights the urgent need for long-term funding, strong policies, and community-led action to eliminate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) by 2030.

The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, observed annually on February 6, aims to raise awareness and galvanize efforts to eliminate female genital mutilation (FGM). In 2025, the theme is “” This theme emphasizes the critical need for collaboration among various stakeholders, including individuals, communities, governments, and organizations, to accelerate the eradication of FGM.

Here’s a table of recent themes for the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation:

Female Genital Mutilation – Global Observance and UN Action

In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly designated February 6 as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. The purpose is to strengthen global efforts toward eliminating FGM.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in partnership with UNICEF, leads the largest global program aimed at ending FGM. The program currently focuses on 17 African countries and also supports regional and global initiatives.

Additionally, the global movement Every Woman Every Child highlights that although FGM is primarily concentrated in 30 countries in Africa and the Middle East, it is a universal issue. The practice also occurs in parts of Asia and Latin America and persists among immigrant communities in Western Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Female Genital Mutilation – Progress and Achievements

Over the years, the partnership between UNFPA and UNICEF has made significant progress:

• More than 2.8 million people have participated in public declarations to eliminate FGM.

• The number of communities establishing surveillance systems to protect girls has doubled.

• 213,774 girls have been protected from undergoing the practice.

The Goal: Elimination Female Genital Mutilation by 2030

The global community has set a clear target — to eliminate Female Genital Mutilation by the year 2030. Achieving this goal will not only protect the rights and lives of girls and women but will also create lasting positive impacts on their health, education, and economic empowerment.

Quiz on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Q1. What is female genital mutilation (FGM)?

Q2. What are some short-term complications of FGM?

Q3. In which regions is FGM primarily concentrated?

Q4. How has the global prevalence of FGM changed over the last three decades?

Q5. How many girls are at risk of undergoing FGM this year?

Q6. What factors could potentially reverse progress toward eliminating FGM?

Q7. What is one key approach to eliminating FGM?

Q8. How many women and girls alive today have undergone FGM?

Q9. What key elements are crucial in efforts to eliminate FGM?

Q10. What is the ultimate goal regarding FGM by the year 2030?