'My grandmother subjected my baby to female genital mutilation behind my back'
Summary
Colombia has become the first Latin American country to make female genital mutilation (FGM) illegal. The practice, carried out mainly within Indigenous Emberá communities, involves removing or injuring female genital organs and can cause serious health problems. Activists and lawmakers worked together to pass the law after many years of efforts to end FGM.Key Facts
- Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the partial or complete removal of female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
- FGM can cause bleeding, infections, problems during childbirth, and loss of sexual pleasure.
- Over 230 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM, mainly in Africa.
- Colombia’s Emberá Indigenous community still practices FGM secretly.
- Between 2020 and June 2024, 240 cases of FGM were officially reported in Colombia.
- Health experts believe the real number of FGM cases in Colombia is much higher.
- Affected girls are often very young, under six years old.
- Activists and medical professionals emphasize the need for education about FGM alongside legal measures.
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