Colombia passes first law in Latin America to eradicate female genital mutilation

Colombia today took a historic step in protecting the rights of girls and women: Congress passed a law that prohibits and establishes comprehensive measures to prevent and eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM). With this decision, the country becomes the first in Latin America to adopt specific legislation addressing this practice.

The approval of this law marks a regional milestone in addressing a form of gender-based violence that has affected more than 230 million girls and women worldwide and that, although often perceived as distant, also occurs in the Americas, including Colombia.

An achievement driven by Indigenous women

This progress is historic not only because of its substance, but also because of the process that made it possible. Indigenous women, particularly from the Emberá people, have led years of advocacy demanding that the State recognize FGM as a human rights violation and take action to prevent and eradicate it.

Their participation was decisive in ensuring that the bill went beyond a punitive approach and instead adopts an intercultural, preventive, and rights-based perspective, built through dialogue with communities.

What changes with this law?

The new legislation adopts a comprehensive approach. Its key measures include the creation of a national public policy for prevention, care, and eradication of FGM; the implementation of mandatory healthcare protocols, including training for personnel to properly identify and respond to cases; the strengthening of information systems to collect and publish periodic data; and the development of prevention, education, and community engagement strategies with an intercultural and intersectional approach.

How did we get here?

This achievement is also the result of coordinated advocacy efforts. Equality Now supported the development of this law from its earliest stages by providing technical advice to members of Congress and contributing comparative evidence and international standards to strengthen its content.

The organization also worked closely with Indigenous leaders and local organizations—including Profamilia, Fundación PLAN, Corporación Casa de la Mujer y la Familia “Stella Brand”, Vulvarte Fundación, Corporación Colectiva Justicia Mujer, Red Nacional de Mujeres, Corporación Comunidad de Juristas Akubadaura, Colectiva Las Comadres, Jovenas Latidas, Mesa por la Vida y la Salud de las Mujeres, and RedEje—to ensure their voices were heard in decision-making spaces. This included supporting the participation of community representatives in legislative debates.

As part of this strategy, Equality Now also helped elevate the issue at the regional level. In 2025, in collaboration with the Americas Alliance to End FGM/C, it contributed to the first-ever thematic hearing on FGM in the Americas before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), a landmark moment that positioned the practice as a regional concern rather than an isolated phenomenon.

It also promoted training and dialogue spaces in Colombia, including a workshop for journalists on reporting on FGM from a human rights perspective, and a convening in Pereira with civil society organizations, activists, and health sector representatives to strengthen prevention and response capacities.

A step aligned with international standards

The adoption of this law responds to repeated calls from international human rights bodies. In 2026, the IACHR urged States to adopt measures to eradicate FGM, recognizing it as a violation of fundamental rights such as personal integrity, health, and a life with dignity.

Globally, the international community has also acknowledged the urgency of eliminating this practice. In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for its eradication (followed by bi-annual resolutions on the issue since then), and the Sustainable Development Goals set a target to eliminate all harmful practices by 2030.

What comes next: from law to implementation

Following its approval in Congress, the law now requires presidential assent, the final step before it enters into force.

However, the most significant challenge begins now. International experience shows that passing legislation is only the first step towards effective implementation. Its impact will depend on effective implementation: allocating resources, strengthening institutions, improving data systems, and, above all, sustained engagement with communities to prevent the practice and support survivors.

In Colombia, where there is significant underreporting of cases, these challenges will be critical to ensuring that the law translates into real change in the lives of girls and women.

A message for Latin America

With this decision, Colombia sets a national and regional precedent. This progress opens the door for other countries in the Americas and other regions to recognize the existence of the practice, strengthen their responses, and move toward its elimination in line with international human rights standards.

“The approval in this fourth debate means that Congress is honoring its commitment to protect and guarantee the rights of girls and women. It is also the result of years of coordinated work and efforts to identify, raise awareness of, and build understanding around the need to eradicate FGM in Colombia. But we cannot let our guard down—an even greater challenge lies ahead: ensuring that the law is implemented and that, in reality, no girl is subjected to this practice in Colombia,” said Leandra Becerra, Legal and Advocacy Advisor for Equality Now in Latin America and the Caribbean.