International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation

International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation

International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a global commitment to eradicate the harmful practice of FGM. The primary goal of the day is to foster awareness about the damaging physical, psychological, and ethical consequences of FGM, often performed on girls and women in various parts of the world. It also underscores the violation of human rights associated with this practice and promotes advocacy towards the protection of girls and women.

This observance has a notable resonance and profound significance in the context of Canadian society. FGM is not confined to specific geographic locations. Immigration has rendered it a global issue that affects Canadian communities as well. Canada's dedicated efforts in recognizing and addressing FGM can trace its roots back to 1997, when the country amended its Criminal Code to explicitly include this practice as a form of aggravated assault. Public health, legal, and social structures across the country continuously endeavour to implement preventive measures and provide inclusive services to those affected by this practice.

In Canada, the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation is marked by numerous events and activities engineered towards public education and awareness on the issue. Local NGOs, the healthcare sector, and intellectual communities often engage in discussions, produce educational materials and conduct awareness campaigns that highlight the physical and psychological harms of FGM. This observance takes place annually on February 6th, aligning with the global community in its aspiration to extinguish this human rights violation.

Top 10 Facts for 2026 International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation in Canada

• The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is observed globally on February 6 to mobilize efforts against the practice, which the United Nations has designated for 2026 under the theme Towards 2030: No end to female genital mutilation without sustained commitment and investment.
• Although often perceived as an issue primarily affecting other regions, Statistics Canada estimates suggest that between 95,000 and 161,000 women and girls living in Canada have either already undergone the procedure or are currently at risk of being subjected to it.
• Under the Canadian Criminal Code, performing female genital mutilation is classified as aggravated assault and can result in a prison sentence of up to 14 years.
• Canadian law also specifically prohibits "vacation cutting," making it a criminal offense to take a child out of the country for the purpose of undergoing the procedure abroad.
• A significant 2025 report released by Islamic Relief Canada highlighted critical gaps in the Canadian healthcare system, noting that many survivors struggle to find practitioners trained in the specific physical and psychological trauma-informed care required for their recovery.
• The National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, a ten-year federal-provincial framework launched in late 2022, officially recognizes the practice as a form of gender-based violence that requires targeted community-led prevention strategies within Canada.
• Advocacy groups like the End FGM Canada Network are increasingly calling for provincial health plans to provide universal coverage for clitoral reconstructive surgery, which is often currently inaccessible or classified as an elective procedure.
• Canadian filmmaker Giselle Portenier brought national attention to the global and local struggle against the practice through her award-winning documentary In the Name of Your Daughter, which follows the stories of young girls fleeing the procedure.
• Community-based initiatives such as The FLOURISH Project utilize arts-based workshops and storytelling to help survivors in Canada process their trauma and advocate for legislative and social changes.
• Estimates indicate that nearly 4 million girls worldwide are at risk of undergoing the procedure in 2026 alone, highlighting the urgency for the international community to meet the target of total eradication by 2030.

In the News and Trending in Canada for International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation

Top things to do in Canada for this observance

• Traditional values and practices can be harmful especially if those practices carry unnecessary risk. It is believed that older generations are more likely to carry on such traditions despite scientific evidence against them. According to the U.N, adolescent girls aged 15-19 are less supportive of female genital mutilation than women aged 45-49. The U.N recommends investing in youth-led movements to help achieve gender equality and to eliminate violence against women and girls. Learn how you can become involved in their latest campaign Generation Equality.
• Learn more about the health risks of female genital mutilation and how you can help prevent the practice of it.
• Read a book to learn more about FGM:
  Cutting the Rose: Female Genital Mutilation: The Practice and its Prevention - by Efua Dorkenoo
  Undoing FGM: Pierre Foldès, the Surgeon Who Restores the Clitoris - by Hubert Prolongeau
• Attend Seminars, Roundtables, and Workshop: Universities, organizations, and NGOs often host informative sessions to raise awareness and initiate conversations about FGM.