More than 4.5 million girls, many under the age of five, face the risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) in 2026, according to UN leaders.
Across the world, over 230 million girls and women are already living with the lasting effects of this harmful practice.
Marking the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, top United Nations officials including the Executive Directors of UNFPA and UNICEF, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Executive Director of UN Women, and the Directors-General of WHO and UNESCO called for renewed global commitment and sustained investment to eliminate FGM.
“Female genital mutilation is a violation of human rights and cannot be justified on any grounds,” the joint UN statement emphasized.
“It endangers girls’ and women’s physical and mental health, often causing lifelong complications, with treatment costs estimated at USD 1.4 billion annually.”
The UN report highlights that decades of interventions are showing results. In countries where FGM is prevalent, nearly two-thirds of the population now support its elimination.
Progress has accelerated in recent years: the number of girls subjected to FGM has fallen from one in two to one in three, with half of all gains since 1990 achieved in the past decade.
“Health education, community and religious leader engagement, parental involvement, and media campaigns are proven strategies to end FGM,” the UN statement added.
“We must also invest in community-led movements, support survivors with health care and psychosocial services, and ensure access to legal assistance.”he added
The UN also pointed out the economic benefits of action: every dollar invested in ending FGM yields a tenfold return. A USD 2.8 billion investment could prevent 20 million cases and generate USD 28 billion in returns.
However, the UN warned that these gains are at risk. Declining global investment in health, education, and child protection programs, coupled with arguments that FGM is acceptable if performed by medical professionals, threaten to reverse progress.
Without predictable funding, community outreach programs may shrink, frontline services weaken, and millions of girls could be placed at risk.
The UN concluded by reaffirming its commitment to work with governments, local communities, and survivors to end FGM once and for all, stressing that sustained investment and collective action are critical to protecting girls and achieving the 2030 target.