Excerpt:
Twenty years ago, the traditional practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) was considered so culturally engrained, particularly in Africa, that it would be impossible to reverse and many future generations of girls would continue to face the psycho-sexual trauma of this abuse.
Despite profound resistance, advocates have consistently advanced the fight to end FGM, and Equality Now has campaigned for the establishment and effective implementation of legal frameworks that criminalize FGM and reinforce gains made building community awareness of the dangers of FGM.
This week, policy developments in the U.S. and globally have advanced these efforts, reflecting the fundamental shift that has taken place in thinking around ending FGM as a form of gender-based violence. These are real human rights gains and the health of girls around the world is brighter than many once thought possible.