Shaping the Evidence Agenda to End Female Genital Mutilation in Asia
Findings from regional and country consultations on the evidence needed to accelerate action to end female genital mutilation
About
Over 80 million women and girls in Asia have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM), yet efforts to eliminate the practice are constrained by limited data, fragmented research and insufficient political and programmatic attention.
The Regional Evidence Agenda on FGM in Asia is being co-created through a participatory and inclusive process, drawing on consultations with stakeholders from eight countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. This brief presents key findings from these consultations, highlighting emerging evidence needs and priorities to inform the agenda’s ongoing development and strengthen connections between research, policy and programming.
Emerging priorities include generating nationally representative and disaggregated data on prevalence and trends; understanding the social, gender and religious drivers of FGM and factors that support abandonment; and examining FGM carried out by health care professionals. The consultations also highlight the need for stronger evidence on which interventions work, for whom and under what conditions, and how they can be adapted and delivered across different contexts. This includes community-, faith- and youth-led prevention approaches and tailored, survivor-centred health services.
By bringing these findings together, the brief provides a foundation for further dialogue and prioritisation as the Regional Evidence Agenda takes shape. The agenda aims to establish a shared framework for research that strengthens prevention, accountability and survivor-centred support, guiding more effective policies, programmes and interventions to end FGM across Asia.