Colombia has become the first country in Latin America to outlaw female genital mutilation (FGM). The bill passed unanimously in Congress, following a long campaign by activists, including members of the Emberá Indigenous community, to eradicate the practice.
This landmark legislation in Colombia provides legal recourse against female genital mutilation, a harmful practice with severe health consequences, and sets a precedent for other Latin American countries to address and eradicate FGM within their borders.
Colombia has enacted a law criminalizing female genital mutilation (FGM), marking a significant legal victory for activists and making it the first nation in Latin America to do so. The bill's unanimous passage in Congress follows a protracted struggle to eradicate the practice, which disproportionately affects members of the Emberá Indigenous community.
Carla Quiñonez, an activist from the Emberá community, shared a personal account of her infant daughter undergoing FGM by her great-grandmother, highlighting the secrecy and familial pressure surrounding the procedure. Quiñonez believes that many unexplained infant deaths within her community may be linked to complications from FGM. Paediatrician Diana Ramos Mosquera supports this view, stating that recorded cases are likely only a fraction of the actual occurrences, and she has observed signs of mutilation in young girls presenting with other medical issues.
While the exact origins of FGM within the Emberá community are debated, with theories ranging from historical African influences to fears surrounding intersex births and patriarchal beliefs about female promiscuity, community leaders like Juliana Domico reject the notion that it is an integral part of their culture. Domico emphasizes that true culture is expressed through traditions like clothing, crafts, dances, and language, not through harmful practices.
Despite the legal progress, activists like Quiñonez have faced threats and hostility, particularly from men, as they challenge deeply ingrained traditions. The path to change involves education and open conversations, even when painful, to help women and girls understand their bodies without shame and to move away from practices that can have lifelong physical and psychological consequences.