By Magdalene Wanja - Reporter
26 November 2025 - As the world marks the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has issued renewed warnings about the persistence of female genital mutilation (FGM) across East and Southern Africa, cautioning that millions of girls remain at risk despite notable regional gains.
Tapiwa Nyasulu, the Regional Advisor on Gender and Human Rights at UNFPA for East and Southern Africa, said newly released data underscores both the magnitude of the problem and the growing momentum to end the practice.
According to the latest figures from the UNFPA–Unicef Joint Programme on the Elimination of FGM, more than 304,820 girls aged 0 to 14 were protected from FGM in 2024.
Nearly 1.4 million women and girls participated in community dialogues, 250 million people were reached through mass-media campaigns, and close to 7 million women and girls accessed prevention or care services.
FGM continues to be documented across Comoros, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
While prevalence varies widely across the region, UNFPA emphasised that the practice remains deeply ingrained in harmful social norms.
One alarming trend, Nyasulu said, is the growing number of families transporting girls across borders to evade enforcement and access cutting services.
She described the movement as “one of the most pressing and complex dimensions of the regional response”, calling for stronger cross-border coordination, tougher legal frameworks and more community-led protection systems.
Nyasulu added that the 2024 achievements represent some of the strongest evidence yet that eliminating FGM within a generation is possible—provided current efforts are expanded and adequately funded.
She pointed to key initiatives supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania, which have strengthened social mobilisation, digital advocacy and community-led norm change.
These investments have enabled creative communication strategies, youth-led engagement and outreach campaigns that challenge entrenched beliefs and empower local leadership.
“Across East and Southern Africa, communities are driving powerful change,” she said.
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“Girls are speaking out, men and boys are becoming allies, traditional and religious leaders are shifting long-standing positions, and governments are reinforcing legal and policy frameworks. With the right partnerships and sustained investments, we can bring the prevalence of FGM down to zero.”
Nyasulu stressed that FGM is not only a violation of human rights, but also a serious public-health concern, associated with trauma, obstructed labour, excessive bleeding, infections and long-term reproductive and psychological complications.
“Ending FGM is integral to reducing maternal deaths, strengthening sexual and reproductive health systems, and advancing gender equality across every country in our region,” she said.
Despite progress, UNFPA warned that gains remain uneven, and emerging pressures such as displacement, economic shocks and social fragmentation could heighten risks in some communities.
The agency said sustained advocacy, predictable funding and community-level engagement are critical to preventing setbacks.
Nyasulu urged governments, regional bodies, civil society organisations, youth networks and development partners to intensify collaboration, particularly on cross-border coordination, survivor-centred services and initiatives that challenge harmful gender norms.
“Ending FGM is not the responsibility of a single country or institution; it is a regional commitment,” she said.
“Our collective action today will determine the rights, health and futures of millions of girls.”
UNFPA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting countries through data, programming, partnerships and policy initiatives, and acknowledged the crucial role of donors, including the Novo Nordisk Foundation, in driving long-term, community-rooted progress.
“FGM can end in our lifetime,” Nyasulu said.
“But only if we sustain the momentum, scale what works, and keep girls’ rights at the centre of everything we do.”
