International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation

Facts about this United Nations observance

• The theme for International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation in 2022 was Accelerating Investment to End FGM.
• According to the UNICEF, in 2022, there were about 200 million women across 31 countries that have undergone female genital mutilation.
• According to the U.N, girls who undergo female genital mutilation can face short-term complications such as severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, and infection. They may also face long-term complications regarding their sexual and reproductive health.
• Some reports estimate that around 53,000 women and girls in Australia were born in countries where FGM is practiced, and around 9,000 are under the age of 15.
• GM is not specific to any particular religion, but it is often performed in some African, Asian, and Middle Eastern communities living in Australia. Most of these communities come from countries like Egypt, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan, where FGM is highly prevalent.

In the News and Trending in Australia for International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation

Top things to do in Australia for this observance

• Traditional values and practices can be harmful especially if those practices carry unnecessary risk. It is believed that older generations are more likely to carry on such traditions despite scientific evidence against them. According to the U.N, adolescent girls aged 15-19 are less supportive of female genital mutilation than women aged 45-49. The U.N recommends investing in youth-led movements to help achieve gender equality and to eliminate violence against women and girls. Learn how you can become involved in their latest campaign Generation Equality.
• Learn more about the health risks of female genital mutilation and how you can help prevent the practice of it.

References and related sites