• Genital mutilation

Genital mutilation

This paper examines the prevalence of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and its social dynamics. It provides an explanation as to why the practice persists and of the elements necessary for its abandonment. It also takes stock of progress to date, identifies what works and what does not, and provides direction regarding the most successful strategies to promote the abandonment of FGM/C.

The most successful approaches include:

• guiding communities to define the problems and solutions themselves
• encouraging communities who have made the decision to abandon the practice to publicly declare their choice and spread their message to their neighbours
• approaches based on the principles of human rights
• addressing FGM/C holistically, focusing on building the capacity of people, and especially of girls and women, to promote and safeguard their own human rights
• recognition that communities need support if they are to abandon FGM/C on a large scale - they need the engagement of traditional and religious leaders, legislative and policy measures, fora for public debate, and accurate and culturally sensitive media messages.

[adapted from author]

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