On 6 February, the world marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). In West and Central Africa, this is more than a date on a calendar; it is a moment of reckoning for the rights, health, and futures of millions of girls.
The burden of this practice is disproportionately felt in West and Central Africa. This region is home to 17 of the 27 most affected African nations. Given this concentration of risk, this region is central to achieving the global goal of zero FGM.
FGM is not a private matter or a cultural rite of passage and there are no medical reasons that justify it; it is a profound human rights violation that infringes upon a girl’s right to life, health, and physical integrity, as well as their rights to be free from gender discrimination and from torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
The psychological scars of this practice span a lifetime, affecting over 230 million women and girls alive today. Every year, 4 million more are at risk—half of whom are under the age of five. If we do not accelerate our actions now, an estimated 23 million additional girls will undergo FGM by 2030, leaving them without protection or hope.
A Decisive Moment for Progress
We stand at a pivotal moment. While we have seen progress accelerating, half of all gains in the last 30 years occurred in just the last decade—the pace is too slow. To meet our Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target by 2030, the rate of decline must be 27 times faster. In practical terms, this means that every year, we must protect 4 million girls who are currently projected to undergo this harmful practice.
This urgency is compounded by a growing pushback against gender equality and women’s rights globally.
Despite the urgency, we are witnessing a dangerous trend: declining global funding. Inaction has a literal cost. Treating the health complications of FGM costs health systems USD 1.4 billion annually, a figure that will only climb if we do not achieve elimination.
Conversely, the “business case” is clear. Investing $1 to end FGM yields a return of $10; this is a powerful return realized through billions in healthcare savings and the transformative gains in education and productivity that follow when girls are protected A global investment of $2.8 billion can prevent 20 million girls and women undergoing this harmful practice, while generating nearly $28 billion in economic benefits.
No End Without Investment
The theme for the 2026 International Day, “Towards 2030: No End to FGM Without Sustained Commitment and Investment,” is a call for sustainability and scale. We know what works: education, community engagement, and working with healthcare providers to transform social norms. By securing sustained and flexible funding, we can empower grassroots movements to scale their impact and drive lasting change in their communities.
In West and Central Africa, we must:
- Break the Silos: Integrate FGM prevention into health, education, and economic programs.
- Diversify Funding: Strengthen domestic resources, explore innovative financing
opportunities and engage the private sector. - Invest in Innovation: Use technology to reach remote communities and ensure no girl is left behind
The Power of Partnership: The UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme
In alignment with these goals, the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation serves as the largest global initiative dedicated to accelerating the abandonment of this practice.
Launched in 2008, the programme works across 18 countries, 8 of them in the WCA region, to fulfill the global promise of ending FGM by 2030 in line with Sustainable Development Goal 5.3. By leveraging the combined expertise of both agencies, the Joint Programme strengthens national legal frameworks, scales up community-led movements to transform social norms, and ensures that survivors have access to high-quality health, legal, and social services.
To date, this collaborative effort has protected 1,137,000 girls aged 0 to 14 years from undergoing FGM and more than 50 million people across 21,700 communities have publicly declared the abandonment of FGM, while providing critical protection and care services to over 7 million women and girls.
This is a call to action for every member of society—from women and men, girls and boys, families and traditional and religious leaders to governments and the private sector – use your influence and skill sets to invest in a future free from FGM. The stakes could not be higher; an estimated 23 million additional girls are at risk of undergoing FGM by 2030 unless we accelerate our actions.
Every public declaration, every policy change, and every dollar invested brings us closer to a world where a girl’s body is respected and her future is secure. Let us safeguard our hard-won progress. We have the tools; we now need the collective will to fund the future these girls deserve.
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Author, Dr Sennen Hounton, is the UNFPA regional Director for West and Central Africa
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