The World Day of Zero Tolerance against this scourge recalls that it is a serious violation of fundamental guarantees, including the health and integrity of women and girls.

Female genital mutilation involves the alteration or injury of female genitalia for non-medical reasons that can cause short- and long-term health complications, including chronic pain, infections, bleeding or increased risk of HIV transmission.

In addition, it can lead to anxiety and depression, complications during childbirth, infertility and, in the worst cases, death.

Although victims are concentrated in about 30 countries in the Middle East and Asia (India, Indonesia, Iraq and Pakistan) and small communities in Latin America, it is considered a universal problem.

According to the organization, the practice has also been identified in migrant populations living in Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.

In response, the United Nations is calling this year to invest in survivor-led movements to end female genital mutilation by 2030.

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