Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) refers to the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is a violation of girls’ and women’s human rights and can have severe physical, psychological, and social consequences.
UNICEF Report Highlights
- Magnitude of FGM: According to a recent UNICEF report, over 230 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM.
- Increase in Cases: There has been a 15% increase in the total number of survivors compared to data from eight years ago, equating to approximately 30 million more affected individuals.
- Progress Rate: Progress to end FGM remains slow, with the pace of decline needing to be 27 times faster to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal to eliminate the practice by 2030.
- Regional Distribution: The majority of cases are found in African countries (144 million), followed by Asia (80 million) and the Middle East (6 million), with smaller numbers estimated in other regions.
- Impact of Conflict: 4 in 10 FGM survivors live in fragile and conflict-affected settings, which poses challenges to addressing the practice effectively.
- Examples of Progress: Some countries have shown progress in reducing FGM prevalence, such as Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Egypt.
UNICEF Executive Director’s Statement
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized the harmful effects of FGM on girls’ bodies, futures, and lives. She expressed concern about the trend of girls being subjected to the practice at younger ages, reducing the window for intervention.
Conclusion
While progress in addressing FGM is evident, there is still much work to be done to eliminate this harmful practice globally.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
- How many girls and women worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation according to the UNICEF report?
- A) Over 100 million
- B) Over 200 million
- C) Over 300 million
- D) Over 400 million
- Answer: B) Over 230 million
- What percentage increase in the total number of survivors of FGM was observed compared to data from eight years ago?
- A) 5%
- B) 10%
- C) 15%
- D) 20%
- Answer: C) 15%
- Which region has the highest number of reported FGM cases?
- A) Europe
- B) Africa
- C) North America
- D) South America
- Answer: B) Africa
- In what context does FGM become more challenging to tackle according to the report?
- A) Urban areas
- B) Developed countries
- C) Fragile and conflict-affected settings
- D) High-income regions
- Answer: C) Fragile and conflict-affected settings
- Which country has shown progress in reducing FGM prevalence from high to moderately high levels?
- A) Kenya
- B) Egypt
- C) Somalia
- D) Sudan
- Answer: B) Egypt