6 February 2025, Banjul, The Gambia
On this International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa (SRRWA), on behalf of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the ACHPR) and her behalf, is honored to mark and commemorate this day. The practice of FGM, recognized as a grave human rights violation, continues to inflict physical and psychological harm on millions of African women and girls despite decades of advocacy, legal reforms, and community-led interventions.
The prohibition of FGM and other harmful traditional practices is firmly enshrined in the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol), which explicitly calls on State Parties to enact and enforce laws prohibiting all forms of FGM. Many African States have made commendable progress by adopting and implementing laws that criminalize FGM, as well as conducting awareness campaigns, including through engaging traditional and religious leaders.
However, despite these advances, troubling setbacks threaten to reverse the hard-won gains in the fight against FGM. One such example is the recent attempt to decriminalize FGM in The Gambia, where a proposed repeal of the 2015 Women’s Act that criminalizes FGM sparked widespread concern among human rights defenders, where the Office of the SRRWA played a critical role.
The resurgence of debates around decriminalizing FGM in some African countries highlights the urgent need for sustained vigilance, advocacy, and legal protection for women and girls. While legal frameworks are essential, they must be accompanied by robust enforcement mechanisms and community-centered approaches that address the sociocultural drivers of FGM. Governments are also expected to invest in education and empower women and girls with the knowledge and resources to resist harmful practices, including FGM. In this regard, the Office of the SRRWA takes the opportunity to call on all African Governments to integrate anti-FGM messaging into national curricula and to strengthen the role of educational institutions in advocating for the rights of girls and young women. All stakeholders are urged to intensify efforts to prevent and eliminate FGM, provide support to survivors, and enact and enforce laws and policies that protect women and girls from this harmful practice. Together, we can create a world where every woman and girl can live free from violence, discrimination, and the violation of their fundamental rights.
On this day, the ACHPR reaffirms our commitment to eradicating FGM in all its forms and manifestations. We stand in solidarity with survivors and advocates working tirelessly to end this harmful practice and ensure the protection and empowerment of women and girls. It is imperative that governments, civil society organizations, and communities take concerted action to eliminate FGM, uphold the rights and dignity of women and girls, and promote gender equality. The SRRWA remains committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that the Maputo Protocol’s vision of a continent free from harmful traditional practices is realized.
Let us work collectively towards a future where zero tolerance for FGM is not just a goal but a reality for all.
Honourable Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie
Vice-Chairperson and Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa of the ACHPR
