Question Period Note: What is Canada doing internationally to eliminate female genital mutilation?

Through the Feminist International Assistance Policy, Canada will address the unacceptably high rates of sexual and gender-based violence, including female genital mutilation / cutting.

• Canada strongly condemns female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). It is an abuse of the human rights of women and girls. We are working constructively with communities, women advocates, and religious leaders to spread awareness and to change social attitudes on FGM/C.
• Addressing harmful practices such as FGM/C is included in Canada's comprehensive programming on sexual and reproductive health and rights, including the current $650M commitment and the renewed commitment of $700M beginning in 2023, announced in June 2019.
• For example, Canada is supporting a $3M project by CUSO International that aims to reduce FGM/C and other forms of gender-based violence in Benin. It is actively engaging young girls, survivors of gender-based violence, local leaders and health professionals.

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) is an abuse of human rights affecting more than 200 million women and girls around the world today. FGM/C is most common in the western, eastern, and north-eastern regions of Africa, in some countries in Asia and the Middle East, and among migrants from these areas. This harmful practice is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15, and is a sensitive issue that stems from complex and varied belief systems and social norms. Ending FGM/C requires transformative processes that include government as well as grassroots leadership and action, and policy and legal reforms that support gender equality, the empowerment of women and girls, and respect for their human rights.

The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating sexual and gender-based violence and disrupting programmes aimed at ending harmful practices. UNFPA estimates this could lead, over the next decade, to 2 million additional cases of FGM/C that would have been otherwise averted.

Canada is engaging with other States and donors, UN organizations and civil society to advocate and take action to eliminate FGM/C. Canada has co-sponsored the African Union-led UN General Assembly resolution "Intensifying Global Efforts for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation."

The Feminist International Assistance Policy includes commitments to address sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), including FGM/C, such as the $650M Her Voice Her Choice initiative and the $700 million of the annual $1.4 billion investment (as of 2023).

Canada is funding a $3M CUSO International project in Benin (2018-2021) to promote the reduction of SGBV & FGM/C. Canada funds a UNFPA project in Nigeria that will aim to have 15 communities of Oyo state publicly declare their abandonment of FGM/C, and train 300 health care workers on prevention, protection and treatment of harmful practices. In Ethiopia, UNFPA and Plan International projects address FGM/C through SGBV reduction and prevention activities. Canadian-funded UNFPA projects in Iraq contribute to its elimination through community-based education and awareness campaigns, and high-level policy engagement and advocacy work

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