‘Making history’: The fight to end female genital mutilation in Colombia

Article excerpt

Colombia became the first Latin American nation to pass legislation explicitly criminalizing female genital mutilation, a landmark move against a practice affecting hundreds of thousands of girls across the region. The law represents a hard-won victory for activists and medical professionals who have long documented the severe health consequences, infections, complications during childbirth, psychological trauma, that accompany the procedure. Yet implementation remains uncertain. Enforcement depends on resources and political will in a country where the practice persists within specific communities, often justified by cultural or religious tradition. Advocates say the law is essential, but they acknowledge that criminalization alone won't end a practice deeply rooted in social norms without parallel investments in education, healthcare access, and community engagement.