February 6th marked the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, a day led by the United Nation’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency (UNFPA) to end the practice of female genital mutilation globally. Annually, the United Nations calls for governmental cooperation at all levels and alliance across every sector of society to protect the millions of women and girls at risk from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

Female Genital Mutilation is a procedure that bears devastating risks to affected individuals’ health and well-being. Pain, bleeding, permanent disability, and death are among the frequently occurring outcomes, yet discussion on the subject remains taboo. According to the World Health Organization, over 200 million women and girls alive today have undergone and endured FGM across thirty different countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

The practice of genital mutilation in Somalia is particularly troublesome, where over 90 percent or more of the entire female population and 99 percent of women aged 15 to 49 have been subjected to mutilation. This statistic was revealed by the 2020 Somali Health and Demographic Survey, which also reported that approximately 72 percent of women believe FGM is an Islamic requirement, despite numerous religious leaders speaking out to say Islam condemns the practice.

As a result, UNFPA launched their Dear Daughter campaign last fall to bring about a conclusive end to FGM. Through letter writing, they plead to individual parents to refrain from cutting their daughters and instead promise to protect their physical autonomy and personal safety.

In targeting the communities of Somalia, a nation with one of the highest prevalence rates in the world, UNFPA is increasingly changing the narrative on FGM and amplifying the voices of young women and girls demanding change. As of 2022, over one hundred Somali mothers have signed the pledge. Additionally, the Dear Daughter campaign aims to raise awareness of the harmful effect of genital mutilation by distributing radio transmitters to rural Somali households, ensuring residents can listen to local health campaigns and receive information on topics beyond just FGM but also on sexual and gender-based violence, sexual health, and pregnancy. In 2020, UNFPA provided 52,225 Somali women and girls health care and preventative services related to FGM and worked with governmental authorities to pass an FGM Zero Tolerance Bill.

This upcoming year, WHO aims to release a training manual on person-centred communication skills to encourage health care professionals to challenge their preconceived biases and attitudes towards FGM, practice their counseling approaches, and ultimately provide preventative measures to the upcoming generation of girls subject to genital mutilation.