On Friday 6 February 2026, UNICEF Luxembourg marked the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), reiterating that the practice constitutes a serious violation of fundamental human rights, notably the rights to health, bodily integrity and dignity.
According to UNICEF, more than 230 million girls and women worldwide are currently living with the consequences of female genital mutilation. Each year, an estimated four million girls remain at risk of being subjected to the practice, often at a very young age. Without a significant acceleration of prevention efforts, millions more could be affected by 2030.
The 2026 international theme “Towards 2030: no end to FGM without sustained commitment and investment” highlights concerns that progress made over the past decade could be reversed, as global funding and support for gender equality, the rights of girls and women, and the elimination of harmful practices continue to decline.
“Female genital mutilation is a serious violation of fundamental human rights. Ending this practice is possible, but it requires constant commitment and sustainable investment. Through the projects we support, notably in Cape Verde, we are taking concrete action to protect girls, support survivors and bring about lasting change in the social norms that perpetuate this violence," said Sandra Visscher, Director of UNICEF Luxembourg.
UNICEF Luxembourg stressed that effective solutions are already known and have proven successful, including community-based prevention, education, protection of girls at risk, support for survivors and long-term transformation of social and gender norms.
In this context, UNICEF Luxembourg continues to support a project in Cape Verde aimed at preventing female genital mutilation, strengthening child protection mechanisms, training professionals and assisting survivors. More information on how to support these efforts is available at unicef.lu/cap-vert.
