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 female genital cutting 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 female genital cutting reported across East and West Africa as a result of lockdowns
• An urgent lack of female genital cutting integration within COVID-19 response efforts, leaving girls with no recourse to essential prevention, protection and support services
• Shrinking civil society space for female genital cutting organisations and reduced access to funding

This briefing has been developed by Orchid Project’s 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.

Orchid Project. (2020). Impacts of COVID-19 on female genital cutting (FGC).