October 15, 2025

In several parts of Asia, female circumcision or female genital mutilation (FGM) is now often done by doctors and trained midwives, rather than by traditional village healers. Why the change? Parents want safer and cleaner procedures for their daughters. Sounds good, right? But hold your horses! Experts warn this medical touch might actually make the problem worse. They say it can wrongly make FGM seem like an acceptable medical practice, even though it causes harm and has no health benefits. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UN agencies classify all forms of FGM as a severe violation of women’s and girls’ human rights. FGM means cutting or injuring a girl’s external genital parts for cultural or religious reasons—not for any medical benefit. It often leads to terrible pain, infections, problems during childbirth, and lasting emotional scars. Did you know? Over 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone some form of FGM worldwide! Though it is most common in parts of Africa and the Middle East, some Asian communities also keep this tradition alive. It's often linked to cultural beliefs that a girl must undergo FGM to be marriageable or to protect her 'morals.' Parents genuinely believe they are helping their daughters secure a better future. Divya Srinivasan, global lead on ending harmful practices at Equality Now, recently told the South China Morning Post, “Medicalisation of female genital mutilation is actually really harmful.” Families might choose health professionals over traditional practitioners because they worry about unclean tools or because old customs are fading. Still, there is no proof that doctors reduce the risks. On the contrary, having health workers perform FGM gives this cruel practice a dangerous stamp of medical approval, making it harder to stop. The shift to medicalisation shows a big challenge: parents want safety, but experts warn any form of FGM—no matter who does it—is still a human rights violation. Medicalisation can give a false sense of safety and block global efforts to end FGM for good. International groups like WHO and UNICEF keep pushing for zero tolerance for all forms of FGM. In Asia, activists emphasize educating communities, enforcing laws, and encouraging dialogue to break these deep-rooted traditions. The rise of medicalisation means governments and health bodies must strengthen cooperation and stop health professionals from performing this dangerous practice. In the battle to protect girls’ health and rights, medicalisation of FGM is not a step forward but a tricky twist that must be tackled with courage and care.

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Tags: Female genital mutilation, Fgm, Medicalisation, Asia, Human rights, Who,