The FGM/C Research Initiative

Addressing FGM/C in Indonesia and Malaysia

Current estimates indicate that Asia accounts for at least 35% of the global FGC burden, affecting approximately 80 million women and girls. 

Female family members play a key role in the perpetuation of FGC, which is most commonly performed within the first year after birth in both Indonesia and Malaysia.

FGC in both Indonesia and Malaysia exists within a complex cultural framework where intergenerational practices, ancestral connections and life cycle rituals intersect.

Legal protections against FGC remain inadequate.

Female Genital Cutting (FGC) is highly medicalised in both Indonesia and Malaysia.

FGM/C in Malaysia: Country Profile

FGM/C remains widespread in Malaysia, with a national prevalence of at least 53%, affecting over 7.5 million women and girls. Among Malay Muslims, prevalence is estimated at 93%.

The practice is typically performed on infants between seven to 14 days after birth, though it can occur up to 12 months of age.

Malaysia lacks a cohesive national policy or legal framework addressing FGM/C.

FGM/C in Indonesia: Country Profile

FGM/C remains widespread in Indonesia, with a national prevalence of 46.3% among women aged 15–49 as of 2024, affecting approximately 70 million women and girls of all age cohorts (from infants to older women) and 34.3 million women and girls aged 15-49. 

The most common forms are Type 1 (partial or total removal of the clitoris gland and/or clitoral hood), accounting for 19%, and Type 4 FGM/C (pricking, piercing, incising, scraping, cauterisation), accounting for 18% of cases, when symbolic acts are excluded. 

Between 2021 and 2024, the prevalence of FGM/C declined in both rural and urban areas, with the most significant reduction observed in rural regions.

Data Update: FGM/C in Tanzania

Prevalence of FGM/C in Tanzania has decreased steadily between 1996 and 2022 from 17.9% (1) to 8.2% (2). Prevalence has reduced in both urban and rural areas with a drop from 20.3% in 1996 to 10.7% in 2022 in rural areas (1,2) and from 10.0% to 3.5% in urban areas. (1,2).

FGM/C is not uniformly practiced in Tanzania and there are significant variations by region. Within Zanzibar, less than 1% of women and girls have been cut compared to 9% of women and girls on the Mainland (2). When comparing data from 2015-16 and 2022, prevalence has decreased most notably among women aged 15-49 in Dodoma (46.7% to 17.6%) and Singida (30.9% to 19.8%) (3,2). It should be noted that in some regions, there have been increases in prevalence within this time period. These regions include Tanga (13.7% to 18.8%) and Iringa (7.5% to 12.1%) (3, 2).

Data Update: FGM/C in The Gambia

The prevalence of FGM/C in The Gambia has reduced slightly from 74.9% of women aged 15–49 in 2013 to 72.6% of the same cohort in 2019/20. There have been more substantial changes in specific regions, namely Mansankonko, Kerewan and Janjanbureh. There has also been a decrease in support for FGM/C. 65% of women aged 15–49 thought that FGM/C should continue in 2013, but in 2019/20, that figure reduced to 45.7%. Since 2023, important action has been taken on the ban of FGM/C in the country. Although the law was passed in 2015, the first convictions under the law occurred in 2023, which led to polarised views on the ban and, eventually, a bill presented in Parliament to repeal it. The bill was passed in March 2024, but later struck down and dismissed. The law continues to be upheld, but growing support for FGM/C to be allowed as a ‘cultural right’ and a desire to see the law repealed must be responded to with urgency.

Data Update: FGM/C in Senegal

The prevalence of FGM/C in Senegal has reduced from 28.2% to 20.1% between 2005 and 2023. Within the 15–19 age group – those most recently exposed to the risk of FGM/C, prevalence has reduced from 24.8% to 16.4%. FGM/C has been illegal in Senegal since 1999 when it was introduced into the Penal Code (Article 299). The law criminalises the performance and procurement of FGM/C as well as aiding and abetting. Medicalised FGM/C is also prohibited, with penalties in place for medical professionals who conduct the practice. In 2022, the government of Senegal adopted the third National Strategy for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation 2022–2030, which is accompanied by a five-year action plan 2022–2026. The practice of FGM/C in Senegal varies widely between regions. The regions with the lowest prevalence are Diourbel (0.8%), Louga (2%), and Thiès (3.9%). Those with the highest prevalence include Matam (83%), Sédhiou (80.9%), and Kolda (73.7%).

FGM/C in the Horn of Africa: Signs of Change

Despite the global headline message that there has been little or no change in FGM/C in Somali ethnic communities, significant changes are happening at the sub-national level and in the types of cutting practised. Still, data, evidence, and evaluations of interventions are limited. This paper seeks to challenge the narrative that nothing is changing and no progress is being made in relation to FGM/C by exploring areas of change; documenting available evidence on how/why certain approaches work; outlining what we know does not work in this context; and discussing the unique contextual dilemmas and challenges to the goal of abandonment within the Horn of Africa.

Date Update: FGM/C in Sierra Leone (2025)

The prevalence of FGM/C in Sierra Leone has decreased from 91.3% to 83% between 2008 and 2019 which appears to indicate some positive progress in eradicating the practice. However, at least 20% of girls are cut after the age of 15 years. Sierra Leone currently lacks legislation that prohibits FGM/C. Despite rising international pressure calling for the end of the practice following the death of three girls in 2024, FGM/C continues to be practiced across the country.

Data Update: FGM/C in Kenya (2025, English)

The national prevalence of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in Kenya reduced from 37.6% of women aged 15–49 in 1998 to 14.8% in 2022. Orchid Project estimates that prevalence will drop to approximately 10% by 2030. This progress, however significant, is not equally distributed across the country. Ethnicity and social identity are primary drivers of FGM/C in Kenya, and this has created geographical hotspots where prevalence is well above the national average.