COVID-19 has had a significant impact on all aspects of our lives and work globally.
This policy briefing from Orchid Project highlights the gendered impact and significant challenges to the movement to end female genital cutting (FGC) presented by the global pandemic.
It provides findings on COVID-19’s impact on FGC trends, recommendations and mitigating strategies that grassroots organisations and activists are using in response to the pandemic.
Key Findings from the briefing
- Increased rates of FGC reported across East and West Africa as a result of lockdowns
- An urgent lack of FGC integration within COVID-19 response efforts, leaving girls with no recourse to essential prevention, protection and support services
- Shrinking civil society space for FGC organisations and reduced access to funding
This briefing has been developed by our Advocacy & Policy team with contributions and case studies from grassroots partners, survivors, activists, academics and researchers across West Africa, East Africa & the horn, and Asia.
