Global strategies to address female genital mutilation
Date: Thursday 6 February 2025
Time: 16:00-17:30 UTC
Description:
The practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) is a serious violation of human rights for women and girls, deeply rooted in inequality between the sexes. Around 230 million women and girls worldwide have undergone this harmful procedure and continue to live with its devastating consequences. FGM leads to immediate and life-long health impacts encompassed by psychological, obstetric, genitourinary, sexual and reproductive health complications.
Although those affected by FGM primarily reside in select countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Asia, global migration patterns have increasingly seen affected women and girls outside these regions. It is essential to increase global efforts to raise awareness of this destructive procedure and educate health professionals on respectful and effective care for FGM-affected patients.
On International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, the FIGO Benign Surgery Division brings together prominent researchers and advocates to discuss united global strategies for eliminating FGM. Speakers will cover topics including FGM epidemiology, diagnosis and obstetrical management of affected adults, reconstructive surgery, respectful care of affected children and community activism led by survivors.
FIGO encourages our global network of women’s health professionals to support and amplify the voices of survivors while advocating internationally to eliminate this detrimental practice.
This webinar is led by the FIGO Division of Benign Surgery in collaboration with the FIGO Committees on Minimal Access Surgery, Urogynaecology and Pelvic Floor Disorders, Women Facing Crises and Ethical Aspects of Human Reproduction and Women's Health.
Language: English with live interpretation in French and Spanish.
Moderator:
Dr Juan Diego Villegas-Echeverri, FIGO Benign Surgery Division, Colombia
Speakers:
Epidemiology and sociocultural background
Prof Patrick M. Ndavi, World Health Organization (WHO) Research Group on FGM, Kenya
FGM in adults: Diagnostics and obstetrical management
Dr Maryam En-Nosse, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg GmbH (UKGM), Germany
Reconstructive surgery after FGM
Prof Dan Mon O’Dey, O'Day Clinic for Reconstructive Surgery, Germany
FGM in children
Dr Jasmine Abdulcadir, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland
Prevention: Community activism against FGM by survivors
Dr Francis Selasini, Network Against Female Genital Mutilation (NAFGEM), Tanzania