International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation

Context

International Day of Zero Tolerance for females is observed on 6th February globally.

About the Female genital mutilation

• Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights, the health and the integrity of girls and women. 
• Girls who undergo female genital mutilation face short-term complications such as severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infections, and difficulty in passing urine, as well as long-term consequences for their sexual and reproductive health and mental health.
• Mainly, it is done between infancy and the age of 15. Adult women may also undergo the procedure.
• FGM is performed mainly in Africa, particularly in North-Eastern, Eastern and Western Africa. It also takes place in the Middle East, in South-East Asia and among immigrants in Europe.
• According to WHO, the procedures of female genital mutilation is classified into 4 major types-
• Type 1: It is known as clitoridectomy. In this type, the clitoris is partially or totally removed which is a small, sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals. In very rare cases only the prepuce that is the fold of skin surrounding the clitoris is removed.
• Type 2: It is known as excision. In this clitoris is partially or totally removed and the labia minora that is the inner folds of the vulva, with or without excision of the labia majora, the outer folds of skin of the vulva.
• Type 3: It is known as infibulation. In this process, the vaginal opening is narrowed through the creation of a covering seal.
• Type 4: It consists of all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for a non-medical purpose. Like pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area.

Theme

• The theme for 2020 is “Unleashing Youth Power: One decade of accelerating actions for zero female genital mutilation."
• The theme for 2021: No Time for Global Inaction: Unite, Fund, and Act to End Female Genital Mutilation.
• The international day of Zero Tolerance for FGM 2022 was observed under the theme “Accelerating Investment to End Female Genital Mutilation.” 
• The theme has been chosen because several countries are experiencing increased cases of FGM amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Background

• Against the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), WHO in 1997 issued a joint statement together with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Since then several efforts were made to counteract FGM.
• The Joint Programme on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting was initiated by UNFPA and UNICEF in 2007 to accelerate the abandonment of the practice.
• WHO together with 9 other United Nations partners in 2008 about the elimination of FGM by calling “Eliminating female genital mutilation: an interagency statement”.
• WHO in 2010 published a "Global strategy to stop health care providers from performing female genital mutilation" in collaboration with other key UN agencies and international organisations.
• The UN General Assembly in 2012 adopted a resolution A/RES/67/14 on the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).