Harmful Practices and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Global Alliance

— 3 min read
Harmful Practices and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Harmful Practices and FGM

Harmful Practices

Harmful practices are traditions or social norms that negatively affect the health, dignity, and well-being of individuals, particularly women and girls. Practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other forms of gender-based violence violate the right to health and other fundamental human rights. They often result in serious physical and psychological consequences, restrict access to education and healthcare, and reinforce discrimination and inequality.

Advocating for the right to health includes preventing harmful practices, protecting those at risk, supporting survivors, and ensuring accountability. Eliminating harmful practices is essential to safeguarding health, bodily integrity, and human dignity.

What is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)?

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) refers to all procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is internationally recognized as a violation of human rights and a harmful practice that affects millions of girls and women worldwide.

It is estimated that more than 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM in the 30 countries where the practice is concentrated. Each year, over 4 million girls are at risk of being subjected to FGM, many of them before the age of 15. These figures represent not only individual suffering but also a massive failure to protect children and adolescents from violence.

UN human rights treaty bodies have repeatedly condemned FGM and urged States to take immediate steps to end it. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Human Rights Committee, the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) have all recognised that FGM undermines women’s and girls’ equal enjoyment of human rights and amounts to a breach of the principles of equality and non-discrimination. In CEDAW’s General Recommendation No. 31 and the CRC’s General Comment No. 18 (2019), these bodies emphasise that States must exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate, and punish violence against women and girls, whether committed by public authorities or private actors.

FGM is typically carried out on young girls, often between infancy and adolescence, depending on cultural traditions. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies FGM into four main types: ranging from the total or partial removal of external genital tissue to the narrowing of the vaginal opening (infibulation), as well as other harmful procedures performed for non-medical reasons.

Why is FGM a Harmful Practice?

FGM violates several internationally recognized human rights, including the rights to health, security, and physical integrity. It is also considered a form of gender-based violence and discrimination.

FGM has no health benefits and is not medically necessary. It is often performed without anaesthesia and in non-sterile conditions. FGM can cause severe physical and psychological harm, both immediately and long-term.

Immediate complications may include:

  • Severe pain;
  • Excessive bleeding (haemorrhage);
  • Genital tissue swelling;
  • Fever;
  • Infections;
  • Urinary problems;
  • Wound healing problems;
  • Injury to the surrounding genital tissue;
  • Shock;
  • Death.

Long-term complications may include:

  • Urinary problems;
  • Vaginal problems;
  • Menstrual problems;
  • Scar tissue and keloid;
  • Sexual problems;
  • Higher risk of adverse newborn outcomes;
  • Need for later surgeries;
  • Psychological problems.

Women who have undergone FGM may require specialized medical and psychological care throughout their lives.

Why is FGM Practiced?

FGM is rooted in cultural, social, and sometimes religious beliefs. In many communities, it is seen as a rite of passage into womanhood, a prerequisite for marriage, or a way to preserve family honour. Some believe it promotes cleanliness, modesty, or fertility. It is widely recognised that FGM is a cultural practice rather than a religious requirement, and many religious leaders actively oppose it.

Social pressure to conform can be strong, making it difficult for families to resist the practice even when they understand the risks. Ending harmful practices such as FGM therefore requires long-term, community-led change, supported by strong laws, survivor-centred services, and sustained advocacy.

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