International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) continues to affect millions of girls and women worldwide, despite sustained global commitments to eliminate the practice. According to the United Nations, more than 230 million women and girls alive today are living with its consequences, and projections suggest that a further 22.7 million girls may be at risk by 2030 if the pace of change does not increase. These figures highlight not only the scale of the challenge but also the complex power dynamics that shape which interests are prioritised, which voices are heard, and whose protection is delayed.

In many contexts, FGM persists within social systems where decision-making power over girls’ bodies rests primarily with adults, often elders, family members, or community authorities, rather than with the girls themselves. This imbalance is most evident in the fact that more than half of new cases occur before the age of five. At this stage of life, girls have no agency, limited visibility, and minimal interaction with institutions designed to protect children. Prevention efforts that rely on education or individual choice, therefore, reach girls only after critical decisions have already been made on their behalf.

At the institutional level, power is exercised through policy, law, and resource allocation. Governments have enacted legislation criminalising FGM in many countries, signalling formal opposition to the practice. However, the effectiveness of these laws depends on enforcement, access to justice, and trust in state institutions. Where legal systems are distant, under-resourced, or perceived as punitive rather than protective, families may act to avoid scrutiny rather than abandon the practice altogether. In such settings, power operates indirectly: laws exist, but their uneven application shapes behaviour in ways that are not always anticipated.

Health and social service systems also play a central role in determining outcomes for girls and survivors. Millions of women and girls require access to appropriate care, yet the availability of specialised, culturally competent services remains limited in many regions. Decisions about funding, training, and service integration are often made at national or international levels, far removed from the communities most affected. As a result, survivors may carry the burden of harm while having little influence over the design or delivery of the services intended to support them.

International actors, including donors, multilateral organisations, and global advocacy groups, hold significant agenda-setting power. Their priorities influence which interventions are funded, which indicators are measured, and which timelines are emphasised. While this has helped elevate FGM as a global concern, it can also create misalignment between global targets and local realities. Short funding cycles, pilot-driven approaches, and externally defined success metrics may limit the ability of local actors to pursue long-term, community-led change.

Civil society organisations and community leaders often operate at the intersection of these power structures. They are tasked with translating policy into practice, mediating between global expectations and local norms, and directly supporting girls and families. Yet their influence is frequently constrained by funding dependency, reporting requirements, and limited decision-making authority. This can result in programmes that are technically sound but insufficiently adaptive to shifting practices, such as the move toward performing FGM at younger ages.

To this end, making progress toward elimination will require greater attention to these dynamics. This includes strengthening child protection systems, ensuring survivors have a voice in shaping services, and aligning international support with locally sustained strategies. As the 2030 deadline approaches, the challenge is not only to act faster but to act in ways that rebalance power toward protection, so that decisions made at every level consistently serve the rights and well-being of girls.