5 February 2026 — Over 4.5 million girls worldwide, many of them under the age of five, remain at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM) in 2026. Senior United Nations leaders issued a joint statement on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.
In a unified statement, the heads of UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, UN Women, UNESCO, and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reaffirmed their commitment to ending the harmful practice. They described FGM as a serious violation of human rights with lifelong physical, psychological, and social consequences.
Globally, an estimated 230 million girls and women are currently living with the effects of FGM. Notably, this practice has no medical benefit. It can cause severe bleeding, infection, complications during childbirth, long-term mental health conditions, and even death. The UN estimates that treating health complications linked to FGM costs health systems approximately US$1.4 billion every year.
Progress Made in Ending FGM
UN leaders acknowledged that sustained efforts over the past three decades have contributed to meaningful progress. Nearly two-thirds of people in countries where FGM is prevalent now support its elimination. After years of slow decline, progress has accelerated in the past decade, reducing the proportion of girls subjected to FGM from one in two to one in three.
However, the statement warned that recent gains are fragile. Funding cuts and declining international investment in health, education, and child protection programmes are already undermining prevention efforts and survivor support services. Without renewed financing, community outreach initiatives may be scaled back, frontline services weakened, and progress reversed.
What Works to End FGM
The UN agencies emphasised that effective solutions are well established. These include community-led education, engagement with religious and traditional leaders, involvement of parents and health workers, and the use of both traditional and social media to challenge harmful norms. However, supporting survivors through comprehensive health care, psychosocial support, and legal assistance remains essential.
The statement also raised concern over growing resistance to anti-FGM efforts, including attempts to legitimize the practice when performed by medical professionals. The UN strongly rejected this position.
Investment and the Road to 2030
Ending FGM is not only a moral imperative but also an economic one. According to the UN, every dollar invested in ending the practice yields a tenfold return. Therefore, an estimated US$2.8 billion investment is capable of preventing 20 million cases and generating US$28 billion in long-term benefits.
As the world approaches the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal target to eliminate FGM, UN leaders called for renewed political will, predictable financing, and strengthened partnerships. This aims to protect millions of girls at risk and ensure that progress is not lost.
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