The Significance Of International Day Of Zero Tolerance For Female Genital Mutilation

February 6 marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation every year. It is an initiative started by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 to spread awareness and aid among women to eliminate female genital mutilation. It aims to eliminate female genital mutilation by the year 2030 and the theme of its 2022 campaign is Accelerating Investment to End Female Genital Mutilation.

In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly recognised February 6 as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation with the aim of eliminating female genital mutilation across countries. According to UN data, the practice is spread across 30 countries in Africa and the Middle East along with Asia, Latin America and among some immigrants of Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand as well.

What is female genital mutilation?

Female genital mutilation is a practice by which female private parts can be altered or injured through various procedures for non-medical purposes. This practice is considered as a violation of human rights and health of women.

Women who experience such procedures may be affected by short-term complications such as severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infections, among others while long-term complications may affect their sexual, reproductive and mental health.

Why is the initiative significant?

According to UNFPA, more than two million women are at a risk of undergoing female genital mutilation by 2030. United Nations, through its campaign Accelerating Investment to End Female Genital Mutilation aims at gathering support and aid by providing adequate health care to those who have been affected by the practice.

It condemns the reckless procedures that violate the integrity of females around the world by spreading awareness among them. UN aims at developing effective measures and laws to eliminate female genital mutilation by 2030. The organisation focusses on advocating human rights, gender equality and sex education in order to support the elimination.

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UNFPA and UNICEF has together formed a programme towards the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation which has called for the global community to reflect upon the crisis and help women and girls to have a life with voice and choice. The joint programme started in 2008 and has been focussing on 17 African and Middle East countries.