WHO Raises Alarm Over Rise in Female Genital Mutilation by Health Workers, Calls for Urgent Action
Geneva – May 7, 2025 – The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new set of global recommendations aimed at halting the growing trend of female genital mutilation (FGM) being carried out by health professionals, and ensuring better medical and psychological support for survivors of the practice.
The newly published guideline, “The prevention of female genital mutilation and clinical management of complications”, outlines strategies to strengthen prevention efforts within the health sector, as well as steps to improve survivor care. It calls for governments, health systems, and communities to work together to eliminate the practice, which continues to affect millions of girls and women globally.
According to WHO estimates, over 52 million women and girls have undergone FGM at the hands of trained health workers—a trend known as the “medicalization” of FGM. This represents roughly a quarter of all documented cases worldwide.
Although the health sector is expected to protect and care for those at risk, WHO says that medical involvement is instead reinforcing the practice in some regions. While some parents believe that involving doctors or nurses reduces health risks, WHO warns that this perception is dangerously misleading.
“Female genital mutilation is a grave violation of human rights and a direct threat to the health and wellbeing of millions of girls,” said Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO. “The medical community must lead efforts to end this practice—not participate in it.”
FGM, most often performed on girls before puberty, involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical purposes. WHO emphasizes that, regardless of who performs it, FGM causes serious harm—including infection, severe pain, childbirth complications, and psychological trauma. In some cases, medicalized procedures have led to deeper or more damaging cuts.
In response, the new guideline recommends the inclusion of strict ethical standards in professional medical codes to clearly prohibit FGM. WHO also calls for comprehensive training for health workers, enabling them to engage with families and communities, decline requests for FGM, and communicate the dangers effectively.
“Doctors, midwives, and nurses can act as powerful agents of change within their communities,” said WHO Scientist Christina Pallitto, who led the guideline’s development. “By equipping them with the right tools and guidance, we can disrupt the normalization of this harmful tradition.”
Beyond prevention, the WHO guideline also highlights the importance of compassionate, high-quality care for FGM survivors. This includes mental health support, sexual and reproductive healthcare, obstetric monitoring, and where necessary, surgical intervention.
WHO also stresses that legal frameworks alone are not enough. The guideline calls for expanded public awareness campaigns—particularly those that involve men and boys—to foster community-wide shifts in attitudes and norms surrounding FGM.
Though global rates have declined over the past three decades—particularly in countries like Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, and Ethiopia—WHO warns that progress remains uneven. Approximately four million girls are still at risk each year, and FGM remains prevalent in around 30 countries.
Nevertheless, the organization believes that FGM can be eradicated with unified action. “Where communities, health systems, and policymakers work hand in hand, we’ve seen significant reductions in prevalence,” said Dr. Allotey. “With renewed commitment, ending FGM is within reach.”