Observance of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

On the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, the United States stands in solidarity with survivors and global activists in calling for an end to female genital mutilation and cutting.

Female genital mutilation and cutting, no matter the type, degree, severity or motivation, is a human rights abuse that harms girls and young women in the United States and around the world.  All women and girls deserve to live free from gender-based violence.

The United States supports global programs to end this abuse, including our recent contribution to the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation.  Because of global efforts like these, girls today are a third less likely to be subjected to female genital mutilation and cutting than 30 years ago.

The United States is committed to eliminating female genital mutilation and cutting wherever it occurs and will continue to partner with survivors, locally-led women’s organizations, and youth-led groups and networks to achieve this important objective.