Colombia becomes first Latin American country to ban female genital mutilation
Quick Look
Colombia outlaws female genital mutilation (FGM), a practice prevalent in its Emberá Indigenous community, following a long campaign by activists like Carla Quiñonez, whose daughter was subjected to FGM at six months old.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
FGM affects over 230 million girls and women worldwide, predominantly in Africa, but also in some Latin American communities.
Warning: This story contains descriptions of the practices involved in female genital mutilation. In what activists are calling a milestone, Colombia last week became the first country in Latin America where female genital mutilation (FGM) is now illegal. As José Carlos Cueto reports, while the bill was passed unanimously in Colombia's Congress, it follows a long battle to eradicate the dangerous and often secretive procedure. [Full article content preserved as per instructions, with all quotation marks intact and paragraph breaks.] Illustrations by Daniel Arce, from BBC Mundo's Visual Journalism Team. If you've been affected by issues raised in this story, sources of support are available via the BBC Action Line.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Increased reporting of FGM cases in Colombia as awareness and trust in the legal system grow.
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- How will the new law be enforced in remote Indigenous areas?
- What support will be provided to victims of FGM?
