Progress Against FGM Accelerates, Half Gains Made This Decade
After decades of slow change, the fight against female genital mutilation is finally speeding up, with half of all progress since 1990 happening in just the past ten years. Communities are speaking up, and the practice has dropped from affecting one in two girls to one in three.
The world is winning the fight against female genital mutilation faster than ever before, and the momentum is building at exactly the right time.
Half of all progress made since 1990 happened in the last decade alone. Girls who once faced a 50% chance of undergoing FGM now face a 33% chance, marking the fastest decline in the practice's history.
The shift is happening because communities themselves are leading the change. Nearly two thirds of people in countries where FGM is common now support ending it completely, a massive turnaround from previous generations.
Health workers, religious leaders, parents, and youth networks are using education and social media to spread the message that FGM violates human rights and causes lifelong health complications. These grassroots movements know their communities best, and their voices carry weight that outside interventions cannot match.
The math behind ending FGM makes the path forward clear. Every dollar invested returns ten dollars in benefits. Spending $2.8 billion can prevent 20 million cases and generate $28 billion in returns, while saving girls from a practice that currently costs $1.4 billion yearly to treat.
More than 230 million women and girls currently live with FGM's consequences. In 2026 alone, 4.5 million girls remain at risk, many under age five. But the accelerating progress proves change is possible when communities receive support.
The Ripple Effect
The rapid progress shows what happens when local leaders get the resources they need. Youth networks are reshaping cultural conversations, while health workers explain the medical dangers to families who once saw the practice as tradition.
UN agencies are working with survivors and community partners to ensure girls at risk get protection, while those who've experienced FGM access healthcare, counseling, and legal help. The programs work because they're tailored to each community's specific needs and culture.
The challenge now is maintaining funding as the 2030 elimination goal approaches. Budget cuts threaten to reverse decades of gains just when momentum is strongest.
Communities have shown they're ready to end FGM, and with continued investment, the 2030 target is within reach.
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Based on reporting by AllAfrica - Health
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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