POSTED February 4, 2020
The world is standing up against FGM
Learn more about the harmful traditional practice and the global goal to end it by 2030
The United Nations reports an estimated 200-million girls and women alive today have fallen victim to a form of female genital mutilation (FGM), a traditional cultural practice involving altering or injuring genitalia for non-medical reasons.
This week, as we commemorate an international day dedicated to eradicating the practice by 2030, we remember victims like Abida Dawud. “My flesh has been taken away, but I can never give away my heart,” she’s quoted as saying by the United Nations.
At Children Believe, we educate communities about the harmful physical and mental repercussions of FGM. In Burkina Faso, there have been marches held protesting the practice and people who formerly carried out the ritual are now speaking against it.
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is Thursday, Feb. 6.
ABOUT CHILDREN BELIEVE:
Children Believe works globally to empower children to dream fearlessly, stand up for what they believe in — and be heard. For 60+ years, we’ve brought together brave young dreamers, caring supporters and partners, and unabashed idealists. Together, we’re driven by a common belief: creating access to education — inside and outside of classrooms — is the most powerful tool children can use to change their world.