Four and a half million girls will face the knife in 2026 alone, many before their fifth birthday, as budget cuts threaten to undo thirty years of progress against one of humanity’s most brutal traditions.

Story Snapshot

• An estimated 4.5 million girls face female genital mutilation in 2026, with many victims under age five
• Funding cuts and declining international investment now threaten to reverse three decades of hard-won gains
• Despite progress reducing prevalence from one in two girls to one in three, 230 million women and girls currently live with FGM’s consequences
• A 2.8 billion dollar investment could prevent 20 million cases and generate 28 billion dollars in returns
• Dangerous new arguments claiming medicalized FGM is acceptable are undermining elimination efforts

The Numbers Behind the Crisis

Female genital mutilation affects 230 million women and girls across 94 countries spanning every continent. Treatment for FGM-related complications drains 1.4 billion dollars annually from health systems already stretched thin. The practice persists despite decades of international condemnation, though the proportion of girls subjected to it has declined substantially since 1990. What makes 2026 particularly alarming is not just the 4.5 million girls at immediate risk, but the systematic erosion of funding that made recent progress possible.

When Progress Meets Pushback

Six major UN agencies released a coordinated statement on February 6, 2026, marking the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. The statement from UNFPA, UNICEF, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Women, WHO, and UNESCO carried an unusual tone of urgency rather than celebration. The message was clear: three decades of work stand on shaky ground. The officials identified a troubling pattern of funding cuts to health, education, and child protection programs precisely when momentum seemed strongest.

The statement highlighted a perverse development that would be laughable if it were not so dangerous. Some advocates now argue that FGM becomes acceptable when performed by medical professionals. This reframing represents exactly the kind of moral confusion that allows barbaric practices to persist under the guise of cultural sensitivity. A violation of human rights does not become legitimate because someone with a medical degree commits it. This dangerous logic threatens to medicalize brutality rather than eliminate it.

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The Economics of Human Rights

The UN agencies laid out a compelling financial case that should resonate even with the most budget-conscious policymakers. An investment of 2.8 billion dollars would prevent 20 million cases of FGM and generate 28 billion dollars in returns. That tenfold return on investment comes from reduced treatment costs, increased productivity, and avoided long-term health complications. The annual 1.4 billion dollar price tag for treating FGM consequences represents a recurring expense that prevention could eliminate. This is not charity; this is sound economic policy.

Approximately two-thirds of the population in countries where FGM is prevalent now express support for its elimination. That represents a remarkable shift in cultural attitudes achieved through sustained community engagement, education, and the courage of survivors who speak out. Religious and community leaders who once defended the practice increasingly stand against it. Health workers who once performed procedures now educate families about the harm. Parents who once considered FGM essential for their daughters’ futures now protect them from it.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a human rights violation.

To #EndFGM, we need sustained action, investment, and support for survivors, alongside efforts to prevent the practice once and for all.

🔗 Our joint statement: https://t.co/otwQYv9flB#ForAllWomenAndGirls pic.twitter.com/0bceYcAkrg

— UN Women (@UN_Women) February 6, 2026

What Actually Works

The UN statement identified proven strategies that deserve continued investment: health education programs, engagement of religious and community leaders, training for parents and health workers, use of traditional and social media, support for community-led movements, formal and community-based education approaches, and comprehensive services for survivors including health care, psychosocial support, and legal assistance. These interventions work because they address FGM’s cultural roots rather than simply criminalizing the practice. Laws matter, but changing hearts and minds matters more.

The Sustainable Development Goal target of ending FGM by 2030 now appears increasingly ambitious. Without adequate financing, community outreach programs will scale back, frontline services will weaken, and progress will reverse. The 2026 statement functions as both a warning and a call to action. The infrastructure exists. The knowledge exists. The community support exists. What hangs in the balance is sustained political will and financial commitment from international donors who seem to have moved on to other priorities.

Sources:

Over four million girls still at risk of female genital mutilation: UN leaders call for sustained commitment and investment to end FGM – UNFPA Tanzania
Female Genital Mutilation – UNFPA
Over four million girls still at risk of female genital mutilation: UN leaders call for sustained commitment and investment to end FGM – WHO Japan
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation – United Nations