November 25, 2025

Today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we reaffirm our commitment to ending gender-based violence, including female genital mutilation (FGM).

FGM is a fundamental human rights violation that targets women and girls. While often described as a one-off abuse performed in childhood, it is important to understand that FGM is not always a one-time event. Many women who were cut as girls may be subjected to additional cutting later in life, including during childbirth or to facilitate marital intercourse.

The repercussions of FGM last a lifetime. Survivors can face chronic pain, infections, complications in pregnancy and childbirth, and increased risk of newborn death. The psychological impacts, trauma, anxiety, depression, and the enduring loss of bodily autonomy, can be equally devastating.

Today, more than 230 million women and girls worldwide are living with the consequences of FGM. In the United States alone, hundreds of thousands of women and girls are estimated to have been cut or remain at risk.

On this day of global solidarity, we stand with survivors, advocate for prevention, and commit ourselves to building a world where every woman and girl can live free from violence, coercion, and harm.