Female genital mutilation violates five fundamental human rights: the right to be free from gender discrimination, the right to life and physical integrity, the right to health, the right to be free from torture and cruel inhuman or degrading treatment, and the rights of the child. The associated detrimental physical, psychological, and economic impacts of female genital mutilation can span childhood, reproductive years and old age.
Today, over 230 million girls and women worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation. As the world approaches 2030, gains made over the last decade stand at a decisive moment. The declining global funding and growing pushback on gender equality, girls' and women’s rights, and ending harmful practices risk reversal of past achievements. It will also represent lost opportunities to generate significant returns on investment – it is estimated that for every $1 spent on ending female genital mutilation results in $10 of economic benefits.
The stakes are high. An estimated 23 million additional girls are at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation in the next four years, with about 4 million girls projected to be at risk in 2026 alone. Despite these challenges, one thing is clear: There can be no end to female genital mutilation without sustained commitment and investment.
This year’s theme, “Towards 2030: No end to female genital mutilation without sustained commitment and investment,” highlights the need to have sustained engagement from governments, civil society, communities, philanthropic foundations and the international community. Each act of commitment, whether a policy change, a mentoring initiative, a safe space for dialogue, or a shared story of resilience, represents a step towards a world free from female genital mutilation. Continued and flexible funding is vital to protect past achievements, sustain momentum, and ensure that national and community actors can continue their work with confidence and stability.
On 6 February 2026, the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme, together with partners, calls on everyone to renew commitments, safeguard hard-won progress, and ensure that every woman and girl can live free from female genital mutilation.
Share your stories, strategies and investment with the hashtags #Invest2EndFGM and #EndFGM to propel a vital movement that leaves no one behind.
