Purpose: The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is observed on 6 February, to promote the elimination of female genital mutilation, coordinated and systematic efforts are needed, and they must engage whole communities and focus on human rights, gender equality, sexual education and attention to the needs of women and girls who suffer from its consequences. In 2008, the World Health Assembly passed resolution WHA61.16 on the elimination of FGM, emphasizing the need for concerted action in all sectors - health, education, finance, justice and women's affairs. Preventing female genital mutilation requires long-term, multisectoral approaches, recognising that no single intervention is sufficient. The World Health Organization (WHO) and HRP (the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction) underscore the responsibility of health systems to ensure person-centred, quality care for girls and women who have undergone or are at risk of FGM, with appropriate referral to psychosocial and legal support, while avoiding unintended harm, including medicalization.
FORUM: "Stepping Towards 2030: No end to FGM without Sustained Commitments and Actions.'' International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2026. While significant efforts over recent decades have contributed to progress in addressing female genital mutilation, current trends are insufficient to meet global elimination goals without accelerated action. And the gains made are fragile. Funding cuts, declining investment in health, education and child protection, growing pushback against elimination efforts and increasing medicalization of FGM threaten to slow or reverse progress. Without adequate and predictable financing, community-based programmes risk being scaled back, health and other services weakened and millions more girls placed at risk. As the world approaches 2030, the promise to end female genital mutilation stands at a decisive moment. Gains made over the past decade risk being reversed as global funding and support for gender equality, girls and women’s rights, and ending harmful practices continue to decline. Yet, millions of girls still depend on our collective will to act. Amidst all these challenges, one thing is clear: there can be no end to FGM without sustained commitment and investment. sustained action and investment does not only mean financial resources—it encompasses people’s initiatives, skills and knowledge, assets/equipment, systems, entrepreneurship, technological, informational and influential/ reputational resources. To advance the elimination of FGM, sustained engagement from governments, civil society, communities, philanthropic foundations and the international community is essential. 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 forward towards a world free from FGM. 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 this International Day, partners reaffirm their shared commitment to work with grassroots champions, young leaders, survivors, civil society, governments and partners to accelerate progress towards ending FGM. With four years remaining to meet the 2030 target, sustained action and investment are critical to protect girls and ensure that hard-won progress is not lostFor more than a decade, the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme has supported survivors and prioritized investments in survivor-led initiatives. There are now more than 200 million survivors. Share your efforts and stories by tagging #Unite2EndFGM from across social media platforms and affirming the commitments. It is only through concerted efforts that we can make lasting change so that no girl has to live with fear or endure the harmful consequences of FGM. So, let’s Unite to End FGM. Every voice counts! Follow the conversation with the hashtags:#steppingupthepace, #6February, #EndFGM.
EVENTS: On February 6th at 14:00 CET, the WHO will participate in a global advocacy webinar for International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2026 entitled "Stepping Towards 2030: No end to FGM without Sustained Commitments and Actions''. The advocacy event hosted by the UNFPA – UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation. The observance of the day provides an opportunity to highlight progress and raise awareness to end this harmful practice. From community leaders to health workers and family members, everyone has a role to play. With only 5 years to the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, our efforts must be faster and bolder. We must step up the pace 27 times to achieve SDG 5.3 on ending FGM. Keeping this urgency in mind. Register to participate!
Key messages
● Female genital mutilation violates the fundamental rights of girls, including the right to health, life, physical and mental integrity and freedom from torture.
● By strengthening alliances among grassroots activists, communities, governments, organizations and the private sector, we can build a powerful social movement that ends harmful norms, which promote the continuation of the practice.
● Every public declaration, every conversation, and every investment brings us closer to a world free from female genital mutilation, ensuring a safer and brighter future for girls.
Call to Action: How to Invest
Break the Silos: Integrate FGM prevention into education, health, and economic programs.
Scale Funding: Strengthen domestic resource mobilization and private sector engagement.
Data-Driven Decisions: Invest in national data systems to track progress and inform policies.
Utilize Influence: Use your professional skills or social influence to challenge behaviors that perpetuate FGM.
PUBLICATION: New study showing health complications due to FGM.
In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the WHO guidelines on the management of health complications from female genital mutilation. That publication’s main purpose was to provide evidence-informed recommendations on managing health complications associated with FGM. The current revised guideline has an expanded scope, providing up-to-date recommendations on FGM prevention as well as clinical management of complications. The process of updating and revising this guideline resulted in eight recommendations relating to training and capacity-building of health workers on FGM prevention and care, including access to capacity-building resources; educational interventions targeting women and girls living with or at risk of FGM as well as men and boys in FGM-affected communities; deinfibulation for women with Type III FGM, including the timing of deinfibulation; mental health interventions for women and girls living with FGM and having symptoms of anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and surgical and non-surgical sexual health interventions. In addition, three best practice statements are presented on the development and enforcement of laws and policies against FGM, the need for professional codes of conduct for health workers and the importance of counselling and informed consent prior to deinfibulation. Considerations on implementing the recommendations are also discussed. Read the full publication!
CALCULATOR: FGM cost calculator.
STATEMENTS: Read the Statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2026; February 6th and the UNFPA, UNICEF, World Health Organization (WHO) Joint Statement on International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2026.
PODCASTS : Female genital mutilation limits opportunities for women and girls around the world to exercise their rights and realize their full potential. The WHO have launched a training manual on person-centered communication (PCC), a counselling approach that encourages health care providers to challenge their FGM-related attitudes and build their communication skills to effectively provide FGM prevention counselling. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
Campaign Materials: Female genital mutilation, which involves the altering or injuring of female genitalia for no medical reason, can cause health complications including severe infection, chronic pain, depression, infertility and death. Internationally recognized as a human rights violation, it has been practiced by societies across the ages. Join the 2026 online campaign “Stepping Towards 2030: No end to FGM without Sustained Commitments and Actions.”on social media. Get the Visual assets in English, French, Arabic and the campaign package here.
WHY WE CELEBRATE IT?
According to available data from 30 countries where FGM is practiced in the Western, Eastern, and North-Eastern regions of Africa, and some countries in the Middle East and Asia, more than 200 million girls and women alive today have been subjected to the practice with more than 3 million girls estimated to be at risk of FGM annually. FGM is therefore of global concern.
ACTIONS
To promote the abandonment of FGM, coordinated and systematic efforts are needed, and they must engage whole communities and focus on human rights and gender equality. They must also address the sexual and reproductive health needs of women and girls who suffer from its consequences. We can no longer wait, we must UNITE, FUND and ACT to end female genital mutilation.
PARTNERS
Building on work from previous decades, in 1997, the World Health Oganization (WHO) issued a joint statement against the practice of FGM together with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Make a donation.
Ensure that girls and women living with FGM receive quality medical care and counselling, as well to develop evidence and advocacy tools to support efforts to prevent FGM