Colombia Becomes First Latin American Nation to Ban Female Genital Mutilation

• Colombia has passed Bill 440 of 2025, "Niñas sin Ablación" ("Girls Without Ablation"), making it the first country in Latin America to prohibit female genital mutilation (FGM).
• The law follows decades of advocacy by survivor communities, particularly Indigenous Emberá women, and aims to end a practice that has caused chronic health issues and infant deaths.

The Context of the Practice

• FGM involves the removal of external genitalia without medical justification and is performed on girls between 17 days and 12 years old.
• Consequences include severe hemorrhaging, long-term psychological trauma, and death.
• Data from the National Institute of Health recorded 204 cases between 2020 and 2025, with 177 involving Indigenous girls; however, actual numbers are likely higher due to limited access to healthcare in remote regions.
• UN data suggests two out of three Emberá women have undergone the procedure, with incidents also noted in Afro-Colombian and other marginalized groups.

Legislative Approach and Implementation

• The law intentionally avoids a purely punitive model, fearing that criminalizing traditional practitioners would deter families from seeking emergency care for complications.
• Instead, it focuses on:
  • Establishing an interinstitutional committee involving the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF), government agencies, and community leaders.
  • Developing mandatory healthcare protocols and integrated care pathways.
  • Strengthening national data collection to better track and prevent future cases.

Political Obstacles

• The bill faced significant delays in the final weeks before the June 20, 2026, deadline, often being sidelined for other legislative priorities.
• Its passage was achieved through persistent pressure from activists and survivors, overcoming political hesitance ahead of the June 21 presidential runoff election.
• While President Gustavo Petro still needs to formally sign the bill, it represents a historic shift in regional policy, as only 59 of the 94 countries where FGM is practiced currently have specific legislation against it.