2024-02-06

International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation

February 6 is the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. According to WHO's calculations, more than 200 million women and girls worldwide have been subjected to female genital mutilation, and every year 3.9 million new girls are subjected to female genital mutilation. They are usually girls between the ages of 4 and 14 and most live in Africa and the Middle East.

The National Board of Health and Welfare estimates that there are 38,000 women living in Sweden who have been subjected to genital mutilation, of which 7,000 are girls under the age of 18. In a survey on care for female genital mutilation girls and women that the National Board of Health and Welfare did in 2020, approximately ten female genital mutilation girls born in Sweden were identified.

Female genital mutilation causes great suffering and is a serious violation of the individual's human rights. It is also a violation of Swedish legislation.

For those who want to know more, there is the page genital mutilation.se.

Zonta International has also been strongly involved in this issue. Here you will find more information about this:

Zonta International's statement on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

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