Help us to end female genital mutilation (FGM/C)

To mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (6^th of  February), we hosted a webinar (with 400 registrants from around the world) in partnership with IFMSA (the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations) and FIGO. The event brought together global professional bodies, activists, experts by experience, youth health leaders, and representatives from international health institutions to examine the responsibilities and opportunities of the health sector in accelerating the abandonment of FGM.

Health professionals have a critical role to play in preventing FGM, providing ethical and survivor-centred care, ensuring accountability, and addressing the growing issue of the medicalisation of FGM. The discussion was expertly moderated by Dr Aparna Sridhar, Clinical Professor at UCLA and FIGO Division Director for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Wellbeing, alongside Anush Aghabalyan, Head of Advocacy and Policy at Orchid Project. The webinar was very well attended. A recording is available on our  Youtube channel.

Also in recognition of Zero Tolerance Day, we launched our new short film, available here. The production of this film was made possible through a grant from Media Trust and the Crucible Foundation, and we are deeply grateful to everyone involved in bringing it to life. We encourage you to watch and share the film to help raise awareness on FGM/C.

The film was launched in collaboration with our corporate partner, Here We Flo, through a highly successful event featuring two panel discussions on FGM/C and sexual health. The evening brought together a vibrant mix of experts, activists, and survivors, creating a powerful moment of collective engagement around the campaign. 

Across the panel discussions, powerful contributions from speakers reinforced the importance of destigmatising shame around women’s health, particularly through the language we use. They shared thought on how FGM shapes a woman’s relationship with her body and with healthcare long after the act has taken place, highlighting how FGM/C too often falls through the cracks of sexual and reproductive health services.

We are deeply grateful to our speakers for their insight, honesty and leadership. The dialogue that followed - particularly during the Q&A - sparked important conversations that we hope will continue to grow and drive change. The importance of education, open dialogue and shared learning was evident throughout.

In March, three members of our team travelled to New York to attend the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). As part of The Girl Generation: Africa-Led Movement to End FGM/C consortium, they delivered two events over the course of the convening. Their focus was to ensure that ending FGM/C remains firmly on the global agenda, while amplifying the voices of women and girls to influence international and regional policy, funding, and action.

During CSW, we also attended a ministerial session on violence against women and girls. Listening to government statements one after another was incredibly powerful. The reality remains stark: violence against women and girls continues to be widespread, often hidden in plain sight, and embedded across societies - including those considered the most progressive.

One statement from a government speaker resonated strongly: “Silence cannot be an option, and indifference can no longer be tolerated.” These words capture the urgency of this moment. The safety, dignity and futures of women and girls depend on the actions taken today.

 We are now preparing for two events at this year’s Women Deliver Conference in Melbourne, Australia. Women Deliver convenings bring together global stakeholders to catalyse dialogue, address challenges, and identify opportunities to advance gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and the wellbeing of girls and women in all their diversity.

Our first session, part of a pre-conference on FGM/C, is expected to bring together 100–120 participants from across regions and is designed to firmly position ending FGM/C at the centre of the global gender equality agenda. Our second event will focus on addressing the global research gap on FGM/C. This gap is particularly acute in the Middle East and Asia, which together account for approximately 40% of the global prevalence. Without accurate and up-to-date data, governments, international organisations, donors, and grassroots actors are unable to respond effectively.

 As we look ahead to the coming months, we remain firmly committed to strengthening the global movement to end FGM/C. This means continuing to amplify evidence, elevate youth leadership, support communities, and ensure that FGM/C is recognised both as a violation of human rights and as an urgent public health concern.

None of the progress outlined in this report would have been possible without your continued support. Your partnership enables us to drive change in global forums, bring critical research into policy discussions, and support the young leaders and grassroots organisations leading change within their communities.

From all of us at Orchid Project, thank you for standing alongside us in this vital work. Together, we can build a future where no girl is subjected to FGM/C.