Khadijah Aliyu-Nigeria
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has called for sustained and increased investment to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), warning that millions of girls particularly in West and Central Africa remain at risk if action is not urgently scaled up.
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Speaking ahead of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, marked annually on 6 February, UNFPA Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Dr. Sennen Hounton, described the practice as a grave human rights violation with lifelong physical and psychological consequences.
According to UN estimates, more than 230 million women and girls worldwide are living with the consequences of FGM, with over four million girls at risk each year, half of whom are under the age of five. West and Central Africa remains a major hotspot, hosting 17 of the 27 most affected countries globally.
Dr. Hounton noted that although progress has accelerated in recent years—nearly half of global declines in FGM prevalence over the last three decades occurred within the past decade the current pace remains far too slow.
To meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of eliminating FGM by 2030, the rate of decline must increase 27-fold.
“Inaction comes at a high cost,” he said, adding that treating health complications linked to FGM already costs health systems an estimated $1.4 billion annually, a figure projected to rise if the practice continues unchecked.
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The UNFPA further highlighted the economic case for investment, stating that a global investment of $2.8 billion could prevent 20 million cases of FGM while generating nearly $28 billion in economic benefits through reduced healthcare costs and improved education and productivity outcomes for girls.
The theme of the 2026 International Day, “Towards 2030: No End to FGM Without Sustained Commitment and Investment,” highlights the need for long-term funding, innovation, and partnerships. UNFPA emphasized that grassroots, community led initiatives supported by education, healthcare engagement, and legal reforms remain the most effective tools for driving change.
Central to these efforts is the UNFPA–UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation, the largest global initiative dedicated to ending the practice.
Since its launch in 2008, the programme has operated across 18 countries, including eight in West and Central Africa, protecting more than 1.1 million girls aged 0–14 and reaching over 50 million people across 21,700 communities.
The programme has also supported survivors by providing access to health, legal, and social services, while strengthening national legal frameworks and working with traditional and religious leaders to promote abandonment of the practice.
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Dr. Hounton warned that without accelerated action, an estimated 23 million additional girls could be subjected to FGM by 2030, leaving them without protection or hope.
“This is a decisive moment,” he said. “We have the tools and the evidence of what works. What we need now is the collective will to fund the future these girls deserve and ensure a world where every girl’s body is respected and her future secure.”