On this International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), our attention is drawn to the millions of women and girls whose fundamental rights have been violated by a practice that has no place in a just society.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 230 million women and girls across the world have undergone FGM/C. An additional 4.4 million are at risk every year, which would equate to over 12,000 procedures every day. While progress has been made in reducing the number of FGM/C procedures over the last 3 decades, these staggering figures testify that there is still so much further to go.

Survivors and faith leaders stand against FGM/C

Survivors voices are the most powerful ones in the campaign against FGM/C. Their stories offer a powerful insight into the physical and psychological harm caused by the practice. They also open the way toward cultural change, enabling communities to question long-held norms that perpetuate cutting.

“Survivors are the heroes in this struggle,” says Bilen Ibrahim, Islamic Relief Ethiopia’s gender officer, whose work involves raising awareness about gender-based violence, including FGM/C, and supporting survivors through advocacy and community engagement. “When they share their stories, they encourage people to look at the facts and ask how we can protect our children. Their bravery inspires us to act.”

Despite justifications for FGM/C often being cloaked in religious reasoning, no faith requires or promotes FGM/C. At Islamic Relief, we have seen first-hand how influential faith-based perspectives can be in inspiring change. Religious and community leaders are often best placed to help dismantle myths that falsely attribute religious legitimacy to the practice, and encourage families to prioritise the health and rights of their daughters.

Grassroots change

Change that lasts must come from within communities themselves. This is why Islamic Relief works closely with survivors, religious scholars, healthcare workers and youth leaders who understand the social, cultural and spiritual nuances within their communities.

These grassroots advocates are uniquely placed to dispel the myths driving FGM/C, highlighting the immediate dangers to girls’ physical health such as severe bleeding and infection, as well as the long-term ramifications, including risks during childbirth that can endanger both mothers and newborns.

They also shed light on the often-overlooked mental health consequences, such as post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression, emphasising the need for holistic support to help women and girls heal.

By speaking openly about their experiences, survivors can challenge the cultural underpinnings that have sustained FGM/C for generations.

By establishing workshops and safe spaces, and partnering with local radio stations to air survivor testimonies, Islamic Relief has helped platform conversations that once seemed impossible. Stories of women who have refused to subject their daughters to cutting and who have urged their neighbours to do the same, spark a domino effect. Gradually, community by community, the taboo around rejecting FGM/C is starting to be challenged.

Pushing for a future without FGM/C

Local efforts must be supported by sustained campaigns at national and international levels. Islamic Relief stands firmly by the anti-FGM/C commitments of the Beijing Declaration, the International Conference on Population and Development, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Sustainable Development Goals. These frameworks are reminders that the global community has pledged to protect girls and women from all forms of violence.

Despite the enormity of the challenge, our work is filled with hope. Every day, stories emerge of individuals determined to protect their daughters from the blade, despite social pressure; of grandmothers who break tradition by urging their communities to abandon cutting ceremonies.

Religious leaders are increasingly coming forward to dispute any notion that FGM/C has a legitimate basis in faith. Young people are mobilising on social media to denounce the practice, creating digital forums where survivor voices resonate powerfully.

Ending FGM/C is an ambitious goal that may seem daunting, especially considering the cultural, familial and social pressures that keep this practice in place. However, by investing in survivor-led campaigns and community-based initiatives, each of us can help to erode the cultural acceptance of FGM/C, ensuring that the next generation of girls grows up strong, confident and uncut.

Please help Islamic Relief continue our work campaigning against FGM/C and supporting survivors, as well as others in need. Donate now.