Female genital mutilation (FGM) refers to procedures intended to cut, remove or alter female external genitalia, often associated with cultural practices and most common in parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The practice has affected approximately 230 million women and girls globally and is an issue intertwined with global poverty: cross-national research that UNICEF has done demonstrates that FGM disproportionately affects women from the poorest quintiles. Of the 94 nations that have document cases, only 59 have acted to address FGM through targeted legislation.

Colombia’s Legislative Action

This year Colombia joined this number, becoming the first Latin American nation to legislate on FGM through the passage of Bill 440, “Niñas Sin Ablación” (Girls without FGM) into law. The bill represents a victory achieved through years of efforts from Colombia’s indigenous Embera Chami community to fight stigma around discussing FGM in Colombia and uplift Embera women.

The Embera people are one of the largest indigenous groups in Colombia, making up a population of more than 250,000. Many of the documented cases of FGM in Colombia occurred in some communities of the regional subgroup Embera Chami. Authorities reported 240 cases between 2020 and 2026; according to the UN and the National Institute of Health, 87% of those affected were indigenous girls, and 88% were under the age of five. Colombia is the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to approve a comprehensive law to eradicate female genital mutilation.

Many Chami people live in isolated communities in mountainous territories or regions such as Risaralda. They have historically faced poverty and exclusion, experiencing threats from traffickers, criminal groups and armed conflict. About 80% of mass displacement cases between 2022 and 2024 occurred in indigenous or Afro-Colombian territories such as those inhabited by the Embera, leaving their communities even more vulnerable. Health services and education on sexual and reproductive health are also less accessible, leaving low-income Chami women in these regions at risk of infection and health issues related to FGM.

Community Efforts and Challenges

FGM in Colombia is widely underreported, and silence characterizes the issue even within practicing communities. The Colombian National Indigenous Organization’s (ONIC) estimates from 2012, an organization dedicated to representing Indigenous Colombian people’s political interests, suggest that two out of three Embera women may have been victims of FGM. In 2007, the deaths of two girls from FGM-related infections in Risaralda finally brought attention to the issue and sparked action from the Embera community.

Following this case, the Embera Wera project originated. This symbolized deep reflection on FGM in Colombia by indigenous communities in partnership with groups including the Indigenous Regional Council of Risaralda (CRIR), the UNFPA, the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF), the broader project of “Integral strategy for the prevention and awareness of all forms of gender-based violence” (MDG-F), and local political leaders. Through this collaboration and inter-agency roundtable discussions, the project opened the discussion of the previously taboo topic.

The Results of the Project

The project empowered women to break the stigma around the topic and have their voices heard in previously male-dominated spaces such as CRIR. Solani Zapata knew nothing of the practice of FGM in her Embera community until she gave birth and had to fight to protect her daughter from it. Zapata went on to become an adviser for women’s issues as part of CRIR and visited communities to educate on the issue and promote conversation and reflection. A group of 11 women appointed to the body hosted the Departmental Summit of Embera Women, inviting more than 500 indigenous representatives to join the dialogue. The UNFPA also worked with hospitals to focus on education and early detection of FGM cases and promoted their reporting.

The Embera tribe acted in response: in 2012, leaders signed an agreement to ban the practice within communities, with a commitment to eradicate FGM in Colombia by 2030.

Legislation and Future Outlook

Time has passed since these community-led efforts broke the silence on FGM. However, the practice continued, with ambiguity around numbers and underreporting still suspected. In 2023, records showed an estimated 90 cases. The landmark Bill 440 goes further to address the issue. Supported by Plan International, the bill passed unanimously despite a politically divided congress, a testament to the bill’s significance. This granted the government 12 months to develop a national policy to eradicate FGM in Colombia.

The Embera women’s work to open the conversation has shaped the non-punitive approach of the legislation: The bill does not serve to criminalize or punish, but rather uphold and build on the communities’ work that has raised awareness over the years. It focuses on prevention and care, as well as working interculturally and closely with the Embera to reaffirm commitment to moving away from the practice.

Looking Forward

In the case of Colombia, it is difficult to measure progress on an issue that has for so long been clouded by ambiguous data. However, the work of the Embera people has brought about real legislative change based on cultural understanding and the continued uplifting of community voices. This collaborative effort brings hope and marks a step in the right direction for the eradication of FGM in Colombia.

– Hannah Rix

Hannah is based in London, United Kingdom and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons