Women across Mali are mounting a resistance against a growing online campaign that attempts to justify female genital mutilation (FGM) by recasting the practice as a way to protect young girls.
The digital movement, which has gained traction on various social media platforms, seeks to defend the practice as a traditional necessity for safeguarding the modesty and social standing of females. This push comes at a time when many African nations are working to eradicate the practice through legislative and educational frameworks.
The attempt to legitimise the procedure is particularly concerning because FGM remains legal in Mali, leaving many young girls vulnerable to the practice without strict state intervention. Activists argue that the campaign uses misinformation to mask the severe physical and psychological trauma associated with the procedure.
Health and legal implications of the campaign
The online campaign attempts to reframe a harmful traditional practice as a form of social protection. By doing so, proponents are attempting to bypass the growing international and local consensus that views FGM as a violation of human rights and a significant threat to public health.
Medical professionals have long warned that FGM leads to immediate and long-term complications, including severe bleeding, infections, complications during childbirth, and chronic pain. By branding the practice as “protective,” the campaign threatens to reverse years of progress made by health workers and human rights activists across the Sahel region.
This resurgence of support for the practice was highlighted in recent reports regarding the resistance of Malian women to the renewed support for female genital mutilation. Local advocates note that social media has provided a new platform for traditionalists to bypass community leaders who have been working to end the practice.
In many parts of West Africa, including Nigeria and Mali, the battle against FGM is often fought on two fronts: the legal battle to criminalise the act and the cultural battle to change mindsets. While some neighbouring countries have implemented strict bans, the lack of comprehensive enforcement in Mali allows these digital narratives to influence families and community elders.
Human rights organisations are now calling for increased digital literacy and targeted awareness campaigns to counter the misinformation being spread online. They argue that the “protection” narrative is a dangerous falsehood that endangers the lives of the next generation of Malian girls.
Local advocacy groups are expected to increase their engagement with community leaders to reinforce the health risks of the practice and to discourage the adoption of the new online rhetoric.
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