230 million girls endure female genital mutilation worldwide: UNICEF Report

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - A recent report by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reveals a stark reality: over 230 million girls and women worldwide have endured Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

This harmful practice, predominantly prevalent in Africa, has surged by 15 percent over the past eight years, resulting in the circumcision of 30 million girls.

The data underscores the gravity of the situation, with Africa bearing the brunt, accounting for 144 million cases, followed by Asia with 80 million, and over 6 million in the Middle East.

Iraq ranks 25th globally and seventh in the Arab world concerning FGM prevalence.

In a distressing revelation, four million girls and women face FGM annually, with two million of them being under the age of five, and the remainder falling between 15 and 49 years old.

Tragically, the fight against FGM faces substantial obstacles, as evidenced by recent events in Kenya.

Despite legislative bans, this abhorrent tradition persists in many parts of the country. A chilling incident reported by The Guardian on December 16, 2023, illustrates the entrenched nature of FGM in Kenyan society.

In Elgeyo-Marakwet County, police intervened to rescue girls slated for forced circumcision, only to face a violent backlash from a mob, resulting in the tragic death of Corporal Mushote Boma.

This heinous act underscores the urgent need for concerted efforts to eradicate FGM and challenge the deeply ingrained societal norms that perpetuate it.

As Catherine Russell, UNICEF's executive director, aptly notes, the trend towards cutting girls at younger ages is deeply concerning, highlighting the pressing need for intensified global action to end this human rights violation.