What is the cost to protect a girl’s bodily integrity, her right to health and freedom from violence and her right to enjoy her sexuality? Female genital cutting or mutilation (FGM/C) affects over 200 million women and girls around the world. It is a global issue that occurs in over 90 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and within diaspora communities worldwide. UNFPA findings show that the financial cost of ending FGMC in 31 priority countries is $2.4 billion, yet only $275 million is available to be spent, leaving a vast funding gap of $2.1 billion. According to WHO data the global costs of treating the health impacts of FGM/C ($1.4 Billion) so that if FGM/C were abandoned then savings in health costs would be more than 60% by 2050.
Surely $2.1 billion is a small price to pay to put an end to this harmful practice for good? These costs pale in comparison with global spending on increasing militarisation and economic spending based on exploitation of natural resources.
It is essential for investment to come from different sources - the funding by multilateral donors, donor governments, philanthropy and the private sector is crucial, but domestic resources committed by national governments are vital as the most sustainable source of funding.