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Putting the spotlight back on FGM in the Middle East – Wadi at the Women Deliver Conference 2026
. A representative from Wadi joined the Women Deliver 2026 Conference in Australia to discuss the ongoing campaign against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Iraqi-Kurdistan and the broader Middle East.
A few weeks ago, Wadi joined thousands of advocates in Melbourne, Australia for Women Deliver 2026. It was a week defined by global solidarity, but for us, it was also a vital opportunity to bring attention to the continued lack of visibility surrounding Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the Middle East—a region that remains frequently overlooked in global discourse. Our goal throughout the four-day event was to create dialogue with other experts, organizations, networks, and institutions – to move past misconceptions and focus on evidence-based solutions. We were able to share highlights of over 25 years of experience leading a successful project that has lowered FGM rates in Iraqi Kuridistan dramatically.
We also wanted to engage with other organisations working in similar contexts to gain insights on their good practices and approaches to ending the practice while also respecting the complex cultural and religious contexts of each region. Our goal was also to speak to the future and to highlight the challenge it is for us to work in these countries when institutional donors are not prioritizing this issue in the Middle East and Asia. We know through small activist or medical studies that so many areas are in urgent need of funding for research and advocacy efforts, but also in need of international support, and high level advocacy at the governmental level that small NGOs and CSOs cannot access.
Beyond the Spotlight: FGM in Under-Represented Regions
Our participation began April 26 with the all day pre-conference event, “United for Action: Global Solidarity to End FGM/C.” Isis Elgibali, who has been working to bring the forward the urgent need to spotlight FGM in the Middle East at a European and International level was honored to speak on a panel alongside Professor Angela Dawson and Sean Callaghan, moderated by Warda Warsame.
The core of Wadi’s message is urgent: We cannot end what we refuse to see.
Wadi started the END FGM Middle East and Asia Campaign in 2013 to change the narrative, collect data, and bring global attention to the reality, now in 2026 there has been some movement on the issue, but we are falling very far short of having real change, as there is almost no recognition of the reality. There are many countries where we have an idea, or there have been small scale activist research, or hospital led studies, but in general many governments prefer to minimize this topic, or a mild admission when activists make breakthrough studies, but then there is no country wide research, or national action plan.Certain countries have in the past 10 years updated their child protection laws, withough mention of FGM directly, instead using broad terms like ‘unnecessary harm’ leaving serious loopholes. Many of these communities are at the very beginning of their journey facing this complex topic. And some countries have really shown that they are willing to work on things, but if the pressure is not coming organically from within their societies then change will always be sort of half-hearted. Wadi stressed the need to support both financially and with technical knowledge the organic movements that exist in each affected country.
There continues to be in some Middle Eastern countries the narrative that FGM is often dismissed as an “immigrant problem”, an ‘imported practice’ labels. But the reality is that In the UAE: A 2011 survey found a 34% prevalence rate among Emirati women. While state hospitals have banned the practice, a lack of nationwide surveys and legal loopholes means the practice persists in private clinics, potentially turning the region into a “medicalization hub” for the diaspora. In Saudi Arabia & Kuwait: Despite long-standing denials, a 2019 study in Jeddah showed an 18% prevalence rate among local women. In Kuwait, small-scale studies from the mid 2010s have suggested rates as high as 38%, yet official action remains stagnant.
In Oman local activists have challenged for years the perception that FGM is rare in Oman, revealing prevalence rates between 78% and 95% in certain governorates like Dakhiliyah. Although the government clarified the 2014 Child Law in 2019 to prohibit the practice, the lack of recent, large-scale national data remains a primary hurdle in implementing these legal protections effectively.
In Iran activists continue to report that FGM is practiced in specific provinces, at great risk to their personal safety they continue to support awareness raising in those communities. In Iraq, while the Kurdistan Region (KRG) has made strides, recent shifts in personal status laws in central Iraq—including the legalization of child marriage by the parliment in Baghdad—represent a significant setback for the rights of women and children.
So these small examples spotlight the continued need for comprehensive data collection to pinpoint what is happening, where and to whom, as a very first step.
The Kurdistan Journey – A Potential Model
In a second panel moderated by Orchid Project, “Data Driven Change: Closing the Data Gap to End FGM in Asia,” Ms Elgibali had the opportunity to share Wadi’s long-term work in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRG). The other panelists were Dr. Bodiroza UNFPA, Ms. Kamanga-Njikho UNICEF, Dr Pambudi Ministry of Health Malaysia, and Ms Cowan DFAT Australia.
Wadi’s journey began in 2004, not by leading with FGM, but by providing literacy courses and basic medical information. By creating safe spaces for education, we built the trust necessary for women to begin sharing their personal experiences. This “bottom-up” approach allowed us to move from anecdotal evidence to systematic, periodic data collection, which led to enough social pressure to advocate for a law banning the practice, which the KRG parliament passed in 2011. For an in-depth look at our journey we ask you to read our booklet.
In the panel Wadi talked about the power of activist or local NGO or medical clinic based data collection, the impact of the bottom up approach, and the community ownership of the issue have been key tools in the success of our strategy. Change is much less effective when it is imposed in a ‘top-down’ approach, and while having a law banning the practice was essential, Wadi shared the impact of its non-punitive positive community based, long-term engagement and the success that it has brought in lowering the effective FGM rate in one generation, and that two regions are now declared ‘FGM Free’. Wadi wanted to emphasize the need for more cooperation in South-South cooperation and sharing of effective approaches, as well as the need to include religious clerics, and meet affected communities ‘where they are’ both physically as many women do not have the ability to travel freely, and in a cultural and religious context. Wadi also directly asked for UNICEF and UNFPA to continue supporting these efforts, and that they as international institutions advocate for the urgency of funding, support, resources, and provide advocacy at the government level for the Middle East region.
Building Global Bridges
Networking at Women Deliver was a meaningful experience that went beyond just exchanging cards; it’s about building a “South-South” cooperation that respects local contexts.
One of the most encouraging aspects of the event was the opportunity for “South-South” cooperation. Meeting with the Indonesian Women Ulama reinforced a key Wadi principle: we must work with religious communities, not against them. Acknowledging the complexity of religion and engaging with religious councils is the only way to reach those we wish to uplift. By speaking with clerics and community leaders with respect, we can foster a shared commitment to the health of girls. We agreed that the ongoing narrative in some academic western contexts that continue to say ‘religion plays no role’ is not particularly helpful neither in the Middle Eastern nor in the Asian context. While FGM is not in the Quran, we must engage with religious councils to address the clerics who support it. Respectful engagement—not alienation—is the only way forward.
We also looked toward the Asia Network as a potential blueprint for a future Middle East network. Their success in building multi-country cooperation over the last few years shows what is possible when we share resources and strategies. We hope to replicate their model to restart the STOP FGM Middle East Campaing and hopefully create a network within the next few years. The network in cooperation with Orchid Project pledged their support, as we work on this topic. A real positive step, and we look forward to working with and learning from one another.
Ms Elgibali with support from END FM EU also met with the Victoria Sexual Assault/Crimes Unit in Australia. Who expressed their interest in learning about which communities could be affected and they expressed their interest in training – or awareness sessions to better support Iranian and other Middle Eastern immigrant communities.
Looking Ahead
Our journey doesn’t end in Melbourne. One of the most significant outcomes of Women Deliver was the renewed synergy with partners like the Orchid Project. By joining forces and leveraging our collective expertise, we are energized to work toward a common goal: restarting the STOP FGM Middle East campaign.
We are leaving Australia with a clear vision—to turn these global connections into local action, restart our regional advocacy, and ensure that every girl is seen. This issue continues to struggle not just for international attention but also for financial support, you can support these efforts here.
Wadi’s participation in the Women Deliver 2026 Conference was supported by Orchid Project.
“The work to combat female genital mutilation begins with trust”
16.5.2026
Shokh Mohammad from Wadi e. V. talks about her work in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and the fight against female genital mutilation.
By Jasmin Arémi, Mena-Watch
In the Autonomous Region of Kurdistan in Iraq, the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) remains a reality. Although the figures are falling – partly due to legislation passed and a social attitude that is slowly changing – FGM nevertheless remains part of a social system deeply rooted in family, religious and cultural structures. Raising awareness about FGM and talking about it therefore means more than just discussing violence against women’s bodies. It is also about community, control, shame and the fear of social exclusion.
Shokh Mohammad knows these dynamics all too well. “My name is Shokh Mohammad, I am 31 years old,” she says at the start of the conversation. She has been working for Wadi e. V. since 2015, a German-Iraqi organisation that has been active in northern Iraq since 1993. The focus was initially on humanitarian aid, development work and support for women and children in crisis regions.
Religious and social pressure
The issue of FGM arose from an observation that initially seemed insignificant. In the rural areas of the Kurdish Autonomous Region, many girls were missing from nursery schools. Research eventually revealed that these girls were being prepared for the practice of FGM.
The NGO’s initial investigations revealed just how deeply the practice was embedded in society. In some villages, almost all girls were affected. In the Garmian region (in the south-east of the Kurdish Autonomous Region), the rate was as high as 80 per cent. Later, the Ministry of Health of the Kurdistan Autonomous Region also confirmed a prevalence of 42 per cent, although this figure is likely to be an underestimate. This is because FGM is traditionally not discussed, and the procedures take place in secret.
The procedure usually takes place within the context of close family and social ties and is closely linked to local social pressure. The fact that it can be discussed publicly at all today is the result of years of political work. Wadi raised awareness of the issue, collected data, organised campaigns and increased pressure on policymakers. In 2011, FGM was finally banned by law. At the same time, the practice continues, particularly in remote rural areas.
FGM encompasses various forms of female genital mutilation. The World Health Organisation distinguishes between four types. These range from the partial or complete removal of the clitoris and clitoral hood, to procedures involving the labia minora, to the narrowing of the vaginal opening or other harmful and injurious practices. In the areas studied, types I and II are particularly prevalent.
The procedures are often downplayed, even though the health consequences are serious. They lead to bleeding, infections, chronic pain and complications during childbirth. The psychological consequences are equally profound, often resulting in severe trauma. Particularly destructive is the damage to trust in those closest to the victim – mothers, grandmothers or aunts – who usually accompany this violence and initiate it themselves. The injury thus becomes part of family normality. Many victims therefore suffer from anxiety and trauma. Their own bodies become a place of remembrance for an experience that is never fully resolved.
The reasons behind the practice are complex and, at the same time, contradictory. Religious beliefs play a part, as do traditional notions of purity and patriarchal control mechanisms. Above all, however, there is social pressure within communities where FGM is still regarded as a prerequisite for social acceptance. Consequently, it is often not individual conviction that is the primary factor, but the fear of being excluded.
Tangible change
And yet, things are changing. Younger women in particular are increasingly rejecting the practice, not least because many have experienced it themselves and are aware of the consequences. This generational shift in experience is central to Wadi’s work. The organisation focuses on long-term education, dialogue and a presence within the communities. Social workers and lawyers regularly travel to rural areas to discuss health risks, legal consequences and women’s rights. This is not just about the practice of FGM itself, but about a broader understanding of violence and self-determination.
The so-called ‘FGM-free villages’ represent a significant success. Following intensive collaboration, twelve communities have publicly committed to abandoning the practice – and have made this commitment visible. This process was only made possible through months of trust-building. Shokh describes how this change is having an impact using a remarkably simple mechanism of social dynamics: » When some communities saw that their neighbouring villages had discussed the issue and that there were no further problems, they contacted us again.” When it becomes clear that change is possible without destroying social cohesion, things begin to shift.
The organisation therefore also works with religious authorities and state institutions, seeking to secure clear stances against FGM. This includes the Ministry of Religious Affairs as well as local authorities. At the same time, international support remains crucial at the political, financial and public levels. Today, the programme is entering a new phase. Whilst prevention and awareness-raising are showing initial success, the focus is increasingly shifting towards supporting affected women. This is because many live with long-term physical and psychological consequences and require medical and psychosocial support.
First published on Mena-Watch
Female genital mutilation driven by local customs in southern Iran – study
14.12.2025 By Iran International
A study on female genital mutilation (FGM) in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province finds the practice is sustained chiefly by family dynamics, gender stereotypes and local customs that often outweigh religious mandates.
Published by researchers at Islamic Azad University, the peer-reviewed paper appears in Social Problems of Iran (Autumn 2025) and uses grounded-theory interviews with 15 women (2022–23) to map causal drivers, intervening factors, strategies, and outcomes.
The authors report that cutting persists within kinship networks that link family honor to control over female sexuality, while misinformation and limited access to alternative medical or religious views reinforce continuity.
“The central category indicates the impact of religious and family institutions in the continuation and reproduction of the traditional pattern,” the paper said, adding that “local customs outweigh religious mandates, with religion serving more as a legitimizing discourse.”
They say women’s responses evolve from silence and avoidance in childhood to negotiation, alliance-building and seeking medical advice in adulthood, with education, urbanization and social-media advocacy widening pathways to change.
Reported outcomes include physical pain, reduced sexual satisfaction, traumatic recall and social withdrawal. “FGM causes physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women.”
According to the paper, common misconceptions about the practice include beliefs that FGM preserves a girl’s “purity,” prevents immoral behavior or is a religious obligation.
“I had no idea what circumcision was until they did this to us,” said one 42-year-old participant.
Another woman described the experience as sudden and violent. “I was confused and completely unprepared. Like a chicken you grab to slaughter. Two female relatives held me down, tightly gripping my arms and legs, and then they took out the blade.”
FGM is practiced in several regions of Iran, particularly in western and southern provinces including Hormozgan, Kordestan, Kermanshah, West Azarbaijan, Ilam and Lorestan.
There is no comprehensive national data on its prevalence, but small-scale studies have reported varying rates across these areas.
The most common form documented in Iran is Type I FGM, involving partial or total removal of the clitoris or prepuce. Procedures are typically carried out by traditional midwives or elderly women using basic tools such as razor blades, often without anesthesia.
Iranian law does not explicitly criminalize FGM. There have been no known prosecutions, and official responses have largely been muted.
First Published by Iran International
New Report finds Female Genital Mutilation/ Cutting in 94 countries
25.2.2025 By End FGM EU
Geneva, Switzerland, February 25, 2025 – A new report has collated evidence of female genital mutilation/ cutting (FGM/C) in 94 countries, revealing how this harmful practice exists in more communities than previously recognized and the number of girls and women affected or at risk exceeds earlier estimates.
Efforts to end FGM/C remain hindered by reluctance from governments to act, particularly in countries not widely associated with FGM/C. Other obstacles include weak legal protections, insufficient data, low awareness, and a lack of funding and decisive action from the international community.‘The Time Is Now: End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, An Urgent Need for a Global Response – Five Year Update,’ by the End FGM European Network, Equality Now, and The U.S. Network to End FGM/C compiles evidence about the nature and practice of FGM/C in different countries. Small-scale surveys, estimates, and personal accounts from survivors, activists, and grassroots organizations shed new light on the urgent need to expand protection and prevention efforts.
The research follows up on the group’s 2020 report that documented how the extent of FGM/C was being woefully underestimated globally. Since then, FGM/C has been identified in local communities in Azerbaijan, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and further evidence has been gathered in Colombia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates. More investigation is required where data is limited, such as in Panama, Mexico, and Peru where FGM/C may exist among indigenous groups.
“Mounting evidence clearly shows that FGM/C is a worldwide issue demanding a coordinated global response,” says Equality Now’s Divya Srinivasan. “To end FGM/C, governments, international bodies, and donors must acknowledge the extent of the problem, strengthen their political commitments to addressing it, and prioritize funding, especially in overlooked regions and communities.”
Ending FGM/C requires better data and more funding
In 2020, UNICEF estimated at least 200 million women and girls had undergone FGM/C in 31 countries. In 2024, UNICEF updated the figure to over 230 million—80 million in Asia, 6 million in the Middle East, and 1 to 2 million in small or diaspora communities elsewhere. UNICEF’s 15% increase is due to newly available data from countries previously excluded from official statistics, combined with rapid population growth where FGM/C occurs.
Whilst UNICEF’s 230 million figure is the first comprehensive global estimate of the number of women and girls impacted, detailed national prevalence data is still only available for 31 countries. This lack of data is enabling reluctant governments to continue avoiding acknowledging or addressing FGM/C.
Most international funding focuses on a few African countries. While this work to end FGM/C is severely under-resourced and requires increased investment, insufficient funding is even more acute in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, which receive only a small allocation.
The problem is compounded by some governments failing to recognize FGM/C in their countries, and in some cases actively denying it, undermining and sometimes openly discrediting the work of survivors and activists.
Comprehensive data is crucial because it provides evidence on the need for action and funding, and sets a baseline from which interventions can be developed, implemented, tracked, and assessed.
Tania Hosseinian from the End FGM European Network, explains, “Access to accurate, up-to-date data is crucial for understanding the full scale of FGM/C and for developing and assessing laws and policies that ensure no one is left behind. Data-driven strategies must guide our actions, empowering grassroots organizations, youth movements, and survivors to lead the way.”
Many countries still don’t have specific anti-FGM/C laws
FGM/C is internationally recognized as a serious human rights violation involving the partial or complete removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is rooted in gender inequality and attempts to control women’s and girls’ bodies and sexuality.
FGM/C has no health benefits and can cause severe short and long-term harm. Potentially fatal – as sadly demonstrated by FGM/C-related deaths in Sierra Leone and Kenya in 2024 – it is associated with numerous health problems, including chronic pain and infections, psychological trauma, infertility, and higher rates of maternal and infant mortality.
Despite this, of the 94 countries where FGM/C has been found, only 58 (61%) have laws explicitly prohibiting it. This leaves many millions without adequate protection and enables perpetrators to avoid accountability.
Since 2020, India, Jordan, Kuwait, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the Russian Federation, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States have all received recommendations from international human rights mechanisms calling on them to take greater action to address FGM/C.
On a positive note, in 2020, only 51 countries specifically outlawed FGM/C. Since then, Sudan, Indonesia, Finland, Poland, and the United States. have all passed federal laws, while France has strengthened its penal code, and the European Union has adopted new regional legislation.
Various countries have achieved drops in FGM/C rates, including Burkina Faso, Liberia, and Kenya, among others, while Portugal, The Gambia, and the UK have had first-ever successful prosecutions for FGM/C.
Medicalization of FGM/C and other threats to progress
Concerningly, backlash against women’s rights threatens to undo hard-won gains. In Kenya and The Gambia, legal challenges have tried to repeal existing anti-FGM/C laws, threatening to reverse years of progress. These regressive attempts have been met with determined resistance from women’s rights activists, legal experts, journalists, and international partners collaborating at local and international levels to prevent rollbacks.
Another concern is how medicalization is becoming more mainstream. UNICEF’s 2024 report found 66% of girls who recently underwent FGM/C did so at the hands of a healthcare worker. In countries like Egypt, Indonesia, and Kenya, medicalized FGM/C is wrongly perceived by some as a legitimate alternative, while in Russia, it is openly advertised by clinics.
There is growing awareness about practices not yet formally recognized as forms of mutilation. This includes the husband stitch, when an extra stitch is added during vaginal repair after childbirth, with the purpose of tightening the vaginal opening to increase sexual pleasure for a male partner. Often performed by medical professionals without the woman’s consent, recent research has found cases in Europe, Japan, and the United States., with survivors experiencing health complications and comparing it to FGM/C.
Putting women and girls at the heart of efforts to end FGM/C
Ending FGM/C requires a global yet nuanced strategy that addresses specific ways it is practiced across regions and communities. With Sustainable Development Goal 5.3 setting 2030 as the target to eradicate FGM/C, just five years remain to accelerate and globalize endeavors.
Transformative social change requires a collaborative, multi-pronged, survivor-centered approach incorporating enactment and enforcement of strong legal protections alongside community engagement to raise awareness about FGM/C’s harms and legal consequences.
The U.S. End FGM/C Network’s Caitlin LeMay concludes, “Millions of individuals around the world live with the lifelong consequences of FGM/C. Their courage in sharing their stories has brought global attention to this harmful practice and strengthened the movement to end it.
“Survivors, wherever they live, must have access to adequate, affordable, and quality services that are gender, child, and culture-sensitive, ensuring their voices remain central to the fight against FGM/C.” Download the report here.
First published by End FGM European Network
Medicalized Female Genital Mutilation: Faulty Policies, Unwilling Doctors, and Frightened Girls
25.3.2024
Despite all what is said about FGM and its harms, and despite its criminalization, Reem’s mother is still convinced that what she did to her four daughters was a necessity, and she is trying to convince one of them to subject her daughters to this procedure or at least let a doctor check them, denouncing her daughter’s refusal.
This article was initially published in Arabic on Masrawy
“I’ll never forget when they stripped me of my clothes and tied me.”
Read full article on Daraj
“I lost my baby in front of my eyes”, FGM adds to the tragedies facing Yemeni women
21.9.2023 By UNFPA Yemen
Hadramout Governorate, Yemen – “I lost my baby in front of my eyes”, tells Safia* 22, from a remote village in Hadramout Governorate.
Safia’s marriage was arranged when she turned 21 to a man from a rural and small village in Hadramout. A year later she fell pregnant.
“The news of my pregnancy bought lot of joy to me and my husband; we were very excited to be parents for the first time,” Safia tells UNFPA.
Two month before the delivery, Safia’s mother-in-law informed her of the practice of female genital mutilation – a religious and social practice to purify the child to lead a moral life – the mother in law claimed.
“As a pregnant woman, I had no idea about the harm female genital mutilation can have for girls. My mother-in-law kept insisting that it would allow my child to lead a moral life,” tells Safia.
Three days after Safia gave birth, her mother-in-law came home with tools to perform the procedure.
“She (mother-in-law) took my three-day-old baby to her arms and carried out the procedure. It was the most unbearable sight, as my baby was being cut with a sharp blade,” adds Safia.
Safia’s baby screamed in pain and bled profusely. She began to lose choke and eventually died.
“Her death not only killed my joy of being a mother but killed me a thousand times over,” tells Safia.
Seeking an end to the practice
Safia went into a deep state of depression as sadness and regret kept recurring in her mind.
“I began to blame myself for not doing anything to save my daughter and to question myself as to why she was killed in this brutal way for being a girl.”
This feeling accompanied Safia for a year and worsened when she fell pregnant again with a girl. She began to fear the fate awaiting her unborn child. In turn Safia sought advice from a neighbor who had given birth to a girls and escaped female genital mutilation being imposed by the in-laws.
“My neigbour told me about an awareness programme she attended at a youth-friendly safe space that helped to save her daughter from female genital mutilation by convincing her husband and his parents about the dangers of this practice.”
Following the neigbours advice, Safia visited the UNFPA-supported youth friendly safe space. The female case worker requested Safia to bring her husband and mother in law to the safe space. With a lot of persuasion from her husband who was also traumatized by the death of his child, the mother-in-law agreed to visit.
“The three of us listened for over three hours about the physical, mental and social effects associated with female-genital mutilation. We became aware of how harmful this practice is and was fully convinced that it should not be practiced and everyone in my village show be informed aswell.”
“In this way and with this help of the Youth Friendly Space, I saved the life of my second daughter. With this awareness, I believe I can help to spare the life of many innocent girls,” states Safia.
Prevelance of female-gential mutilation in Yemen
Female genital mutilation/cutting, a violation of human rights, remains common in the coastal areas of Yemen. Highest prevalence in the governorates of Al-Mahrah (85%) Hadramout (80%), Al-Hodeidah (62%) and Aden (22%).
The Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of 2013 states that 19 per cent of all women and girls aged 15-49 in Yemen have undergone some form of female genital mutilation in Yemen. Nintey-six per cent of the cases occur before girls reach five years of age. Nine in 10 girls who were cut experienced the practice within their first week of life.
For girls and women aged 15-49, eighty-five per cent was performed by traditional practitioners; 13% by medical practitioners.
A cross-sectional survey conducted among 646 women and 345 men from six districts in three Yemeni coastal governorates between July and September 2020 found the prevalence of female genital mutilation in Yemeni coastal areas was 89 percont among women and 79.8 per cent among the youngest daughters in the surveyed families. Nearly two-thirds of women and half of the men recorded a poor knowledge level about the harms of the practice.
UNFPA’s response
The UNFPA-UNICEF joint programme on the elimination of female genital mutilation is being implemented across five governorates with high prevelance of female genital mutilation.
Interventions focus on awarness raising, prevntion activities through UNFPA’s youth friendly centres and women and girl’s safe spaces and through the active engement of religious and community leaders among others.
In August 2023, an eight-day awareness-raising campaign focused on the harmfulness of female genital mutilation was conducted in Hadramout governorate as part of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme to end female genital mutilation. The campaign reached more than 400 people, many of them women and girls.
In 2022 alone, over 1,000 women and girls were reached through 10 awareness campaigns.
*Name changed for privacy and protection
Promising developments in Sudan & the United Arab Emirates
8.6.2020
Female genital mutilation is a global problem and one which requires global action to end it. Research on the existence and prevalence of the practice is critical to the efforts to eradicate the practice. Laws criminalizing FGM provide a cornerstone for national efforts to end the practice. We’ve rounded up significant developments in laws and available data to end FGM over the last few months.
New Research on Female Genital Mutilation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Earlier, there was only a single study on the existence of FGM in the UAE – a small survey of 100 Emirati women from 2011, which demonstrated that 34% of the women surveyed had undergone FGM. Now, a new research study that surveyed 831 women in Abu Dhabi city has found an FGM prevalence rate of 41.4% amongst the study participants. The study found that the most common type of FGM performed in the UAE was Type 1 (partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the clitoral hood). Significantly, around 72% of the respondents were against the practice of FGM, which bodes well for the future!
Read full article on Equality Now
Feb 6: Wadi speaks on DW about what made success in Kurdistan possible
6.2.2020 “You need to work with the communities, not against them, said Stop FGM Middle East & Asia campaigner Hannah Wettig on Deutsche Welle TV on February 6th. (more…)
6th of Feb: WADI announces FGM has dropped to zero in highly effected region in Iraqi Kurdistan
5.2.2020. No new cases of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) were recorded in Garmian, the South-Eastern region of Kurdistan in Iraq, during the last year. This historic moment will be celebrated on February 6, International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, in the capital of Garmian. (more…)
Oman bans unexpectedly Female Genital Mutilation
30.9.2019. Two weeks ago, the Omani Ministry of Social Affairs und Development announced a change in the law protecting children. Now, the convention of the child includes a specific prohibition of female genital mutilation (FGM). This change in law came as a surprise to most observers. (more…)