Cross-border FGM/C
Cross-border FGM/C means the movement by families and circumcisers across borders into a neighbouring country to evade laws against FGM/C. Borders are often porous, and people can easily enter another country without using official border crossings. Where ethnic groups straddle border areas, people frequently travel to and fro for trade and ‘family functions’, which can include FGM/C.
Cross-border FGM/C is a growing trend across certain parts of Africa, e.g. in East Africa across the Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Djibouti borders, and in West Africa across the Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia borders. Girls and women living in border areas are at high risk of FGM/C – often higher than the national average.
Drivers of cross-border FGM/C include lack of laws or law enforcement in some countries, remoteness of border areas which allows people to cross undetected, and the perception that it is easier to get girls ‘cut’ in a neighbouring country where there are fewer prosecutions and lower penalties.
In general, there is a lack of collaboration between governments, local authorities, police, and legislators. Some African governments have agreed to harmonise their policies and introduce regional monitoring mechanisms. But more needs to be done. A UNFPA report (2022) on Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda found there are still no harmonised provisions. A regional action plan was agreed in 2019 but ended in 2024.
The UN sees these as key priorities:
Harmonising legislation and policies to include common standards on cross-border FGM/C;
Strengthening intergovernmental collaboration for effective implementation of a multisectoral plan of action, especially in border towns;
Measuring changes; developing interventions that are informed by evidence and effective in reducing cross-border FGM/C; and investing more in research to capture new trends.