Colombia moves to ban female genital mutilation

Colombia made history on Wednesday by passing a landmark bill to ban female genital mutilation. This makes it the first country in Latin America to enact specific legislation criminalizing the practice and establishing comprehensive measures for its prevention, education, and eradication.

Rather than relying solely on criminalization, the new law focuses on healthcare protocols, community-led education, and support for victims. This strategy was specifically designed to avoid driving the practice further underground and to empower Indigenous midwives and women.