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UNFPA, WHO condemn medicalisation of female genital mutilation, issue joint statement
The UNFPA and WHO condemned the medicalization of female genital mutilation, emphasizing it as a grave violation of human rights affecting over 230 million women globally.
- In 2024, it is estimated that over 230 million women and girls globally had undergone female genital mutilation, with a staggering 80 million living in Asia.
- The United Nations Population Fund and the World Health Organization jointly released a statement condemning the role of health professionals in the medicalization of female genital mutilation.
- The International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics supports the stance against medicalization, highlighting its detrimental impact on psychology and human rights across the Asia-Pacific region.
Why It Matters
This condemnation by leading health organizations underscores the urgent need to protect womens rights and health, challenging a practice that continues to undermine gender equality and mental well-being in affected regions.