2nd October 2025
- Medicalised FGM/C is increasing across Asia – especially in urban areas and among younger girls.
- Healthcare providers from practising communities often perform FGM/C without formal training, driven by cultural, religious, or perceived hygienic justifications.
- Standardisation is rising, with FGM/C included in postnatal or infant care packages in some countries.
- There is no evidence of harm reduction. In fact, some health workers perform more severe forms (such as Type 1a) using anaesthetics and anatomical knowledge.
- Legal and policy protections are weak or non-existent. Only a few countries have circulars banning the practice by medical staff, and most lack enforcement.
- There is hope. Some midwives in Indonesia have begun refusing to perform FGM/C, offering non-invasive care instead – showing that change is possible.