These operations, which harm female genitalia, represent a serious violation of human rights, including the right to life, health, and bodily integrity. As a result of such practices, over 230 million women and girls worldwide have already suffered irreparable harm. Additionally, 23 million girls are at risk of becoming the next victims.
This practice has a devastating impact on both the physical and mental health of women and girls, causing serious complications that cost $1.4 billion annually to treat.
According to the UN, every investment in combating mutilating operations yields a tenfold return. An investment of $2.8 billion could prevent 20 million cases of female genital mutilation, providing an economic benefit of $28 billion.
Historical efforts to eradicate this practice over the past thirty years have begun to bear fruit.
According to studies, nearly 66% of the population in countries where female genital mutilation is prevalent supports initiatives to eliminate it.
Since 1990, in regions where female genital mutilation is practiced, the number of girls undergoing this procedure has decreased from one in two to one in three.
However, the UN emphasizes that this is still not enough to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of completely ending mutilating operations by 2030.
