UNICEF: 30 Million Women and Girls Have Been Circumcised in the Last Eight Years

On Friday, March 8, coinciding with International Women's Day, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) released a report indicating that over 230 million women and girls worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM), with the majority residing in Africa. UNICEF estimates that approximately 30 million individuals have been subjected to this procedure in the past eight years, during which parts of their genitalia are removed for non-medical reasons, either partially or completely. UNICEF states that the percentage of women and girls experiencing FGM is decreasing, but warns that efforts to eradicate this practice are progressing very slowly in light of rapidly growing populations. Catherine Russell, UNICEF's Executive Director, expressed concern over a 'worrying' trend where more girls are being circumcised at younger ages, even before they reach five years old, stating that this limits the opportunity for preventive intervention. Female circumcision, which is mistakenly believed to control sexual urges, can lead to severe bleeding and even death. Girls of various ages, from infancy to adolescence, undergo this procedure. Long-term consequences of FGM in women may include urinary tract infections, menstrual problems, pain, decreased sexual desire, childbirth complications, as well as depression, low self-esteem, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The UNICEF report states that approximately 144 million women and girls have been circumcised in Africa alone, followed by Asia with 80 million and the Middle East with 6 million. Somalia tops the list of countries where women are circumcised, with 99% of the female population aged 15 to 49 having undergone the procedure. Burkina Faso has made the most progress in reducing FGM rates, decreasing from 89% to 30% over three decades. The UNICEF report also shows that four out of ten survivors live in countries with high population growth rates, emphasizing that political instability and conflict hinder efforts to prevent this practice and support victims. Among crisis-affected countries, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Sudan have the highest numbers of circumcised girls and women. While the report welcomes progress made in some countries, it warns that the world is falling short of what is necessary to achieve the UN's goal of eradicating FGM by 2030. The report states: 'In some countries, to achieve this goal by 2030, progress must be ten times faster than the best recorded advancements in history.' Nimko Ali, CEO of the UK-based charity 'Five Foundation,' which fights against FGM, described UNICEF's estimates as 'shocking' and 'devastating,' emphasizing that more funding is needed to end this practice globally.