On March 13, 2025, the Global Platform for Action to End FGM/C hosted a powerful session at the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), titled "Reframing FGM/C Through an Intersectional Lens." Held at the Church Center for the United Nations, this event created a space for critical dialogue, collective reflection, and renewed commitments to ending female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) worldwide.
From the beginning, the energy in the room was palpable. The symbolic ringing of a bell every 12 minutes—representing the frequency of lives lost due to FGM/C— anchored the conversation in the real, ongoing consequences of the continuation of FGM/C and the lives lost.
The event was structured around three affirmations designed to challenge dominant narratives about FGM/C, and offer a more inclusive and global reframing of the issue:
Affirmation 1: FGM/C is a Global Issue
Speakers Saza Fardilla (Asia Network to End FGM/C and End FGC Singapore), and Line Baago-Rasmussen (UNICEF), used the latest data to disrupt the misconception that FGM/C only occurs in specific regions. They underscored the need for a truly global response that includes often-overlooked areas such as Asia and diaspora communities. Saza shared insights from her advocacy in Singapore, highlighting how FGM/C continues to affect the Malaysian Muslim population in Singapore. She emphasized that, in her opinion in the Singaporean context, criminalization of FGM/C may not be the most effective or just solution—especially given the potential for further marginalization of an already disadvantaged minority population. Instead, she advocated for a model grounded in community education and collective responsibility. This context-specific approach focuses on engaging communities through dialogue, awareness-building, and and trust-based interventions to address FGM/C.
Affirmation 2: FGM/C is a potentially life-threatening form of SGBV and violence against children
This segment, which featured remarks from Dr. Leyla Hussain (The Girl Generation), and Professor James Rockey (Birmingham University), reframed FGM/C as not just a cultural issue, but a serious form of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and child abuse. Professor Rockey shared findings from his recent study, revealing that FGM/C is responsible for approximately 44,000 deaths annually across 15 countries where the practice is prevalent. That equates to one girl or young woman dying every 12 minutes due to FGM/C-related complications. They also addressed how mainstream narratives often exclude or dilute certain forms of genital harm, such as labiaplasty or the “husband stitch,” further complicating advocacy efforts. Audience members explored how redefining FGM/C within the SGBV framework can open doors for deeper policy and health system integration.
Affirmation 3: We need to expose the manipulative narrative around FGM/C in anti-rights agenda
Speakers Marianne Nguena Kana (End FGM European Network) and Caitlin LeMay (US End FGM/C Network) tackled the ways anti-rights movements in the U.S. and Europe have co-opted FGM/C narratives to advance xenophobic or anti-immigrant agendas. A particularly troubling aspect discussed was the conflation of FGM/C with gender-affirming care, especially within the United States. This conflation has been exemplified by recent political actions, such as the executive order issued by President Donald Trump on January 28, 2025, titled "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation." This order erroneously equates gender-affirming treatments for transgender youth with female genital mutilation, directing the Department of Justice and state authorities to prioritize the enforcement of laws banning FGM/C in contexts unrelated to their original intent. By exposing these manipulations, they emphasized the importance of survivor-led messaging that resists political exploitation and centers on community well-being.
As the event drew to a close, participants were left with a renewed understanding of why framing matters—not just in the language we use, but in how we shape policies, allocate funding, and build global solidarity. The conversations had reaffirmed the necessity of listening to and learning from those most impacted by FGM/C, and ensuring that all strategies to end this form of gender-based violence reflect diverse, lived realities. The liveliness and depth of the conversation could have easily continued well beyond the scheduled time, but of course, we had to bring the event to a close. We look forward to future opportunities to bring the issue of FGM/C to the world stage—centering intersectional approaches, community-driven solutions, and survivor-led advocacy every step of the way!