Colombia is approaching a decisive moment in the defense of human rights. The country is just one step away from fully banning female genital mutilation (FGM), an ancestral practice that remained largely invisible for years but has deeply affected girls, particularly in Indigenous communities.
The recent approval of the bill in its third debate in the Senate’s First Committee marks a turning point. Beyond the legislative progress, the issue has now reached the center of the national conversation, shedding light on a reality that for decades was ignored or kept in silence. In a rare moment in Congress, the initiative passed unanimously, reflecting a broad political consensus on the seriousness of the issue.
Led by lawmakers Jennifer Pedraza, Alexandra Vazquez, Carolina Giraldo, and Angelica Lozano, the bill has brought together efforts from the government, civil society organizations, public health experts, and Indigenous leaders.
This broad support signals a key shift: FGM is no longer viewed as a marginal or purely cultural issue, but as a direct violation of the fundamental rights of girls, women, and people with the capacity to give birth. This shift in public discourse also reflects a broader process — the recognition that long-standing practices must be questioned when they cause physical, psychological, and social harm.
Fewer cases in Colombia, but the problem persists
Although Colombia does not face the same levels seen in parts of Africa or the Middle East, where FGM is more widespread, its existence is particularly alarming within the Latin American context. The country remains the only one in the region where cases have been consistently documented.
According to official data from the Ministry of Health and the National Institute of Health, the trend has declined in recent years: 91 cases were reported in 2023, 54 in 2024, and 39 in 2025. This decrease is significant and suggests that prevention efforts and community-based initiatives are beginning to have an impact.
However, these numbers should be interpreted with caution. FGM remains a practice surrounded by silence, making it difficult to track. In rural and Indigenous territories, geographic, cultural, and institutional barriers may prevent many cases from being reported or addressed.
Most cases are concentrated in the department of Risaralda, particularly among the Emberá people. There, the practice — locally known as “curación” — has been passed down through generations and is embedded in a complex cultural framework involving beliefs about the body, femininity, and community belonging.
One of the most concerning aspects is the age of the victims. In many cases, the procedure is performed on girls under one year old, significantly increasing medical risks and eliminating any possibility of consent. This reality highlights the urgent need for preventive approaches that begin early in life.
From a public health perspective, the consequences are severe and often irreversible. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is recognized as a practice with no clinical benefits and multiple harmful effects, both acute and long-term. Its impact varies depending on the type of procedure, the age at which it is performed, and the conditions under which it takes place, but in all cases, it poses significant health risks.
In the short term, complications can be severe and even life-threatening. The most common include heavy bleeding due to the cutting of highly vascularized tissue, bacterial infections caused by non-sterile instruments, and extreme pain without any form of anesthesia.
In infants and young girls, these risks are heightened due to their physiological vulnerability, increasing the likelihood of shock, sepsis, and death. Another immediate risk is urinary retention, caused by swelling and pain, which can lead to urinary tract infections.
Additionally, exposure to blood and tissue without proper protection increases the risk of transmitting infectious diseases.
In the medium and long term, the consequences are complex and often irreversible. Abnormal scarring and keloids are common, potentially causing chronic pain and interfering with basic bodily functions. Chronic infections of the urinary and reproductive systems may also occur, along with painful menstruation due to anatomical changes or obstructions.
In terms of reproductive health, FGM is associated with significant obstetric complications. Women who have undergone the procedure face a higher risk of tearing during childbirth, postpartum hemorrhage, the need for surgical interventions, and increased risks for both mother and newborn. In some cases, it may contribute to infertility or difficulty conceiving.
The mental health impact is also profound. According to specialists in the field, many survivors develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and difficulties in their sexual and emotional lives. These effects can persist throughout adulthood and affect overall well-being.
Additionally, FGM can limit access to proper health care. In communities where the practice is normalized, there may be resistance to seeking medical attention or cultural barriers that delay or prevent timely treatment of complications. Overall, scientific evidence is clear.
Female genital mutilation is a high-risk practice that compromises physical, mental, and reproductive health, with consequences that can last a lifetime.
Understanding this issue also requires examining its cultural roots without oversimplifying. In some communities, FGM has been associated with ideas of purity, social control of the body, and preparation for adulthood. However, these traditions are neither static nor uniform.
In recent years, important changes have emerged from within the communities themselves. Indigenous women leaders, traditional midwives, and spiritual authorities have begun to challenge the practice, promoting symbolic alternatives that do not involve physical harm.
This internal transformation has been key to the decline in cases and shows that cultural change is possible when it comes from within.
The law nearing approval: a necessary step with complex challenges ahead
After passing its third debate, the bill now heads to the Senate floor for a final vote. If approved, it will become law and mark a major step forward in eradicating FGM in Colombia.
The legislation explicitly bans the practice and establishes criminal penalties for those who perform or promote it. It also includes an intercultural approach, recognizing the importance of engaging with Indigenous communities, respecting their governance systems, and building solutions that protect fundamental rights.
In addition, the bill outlines prevention and education strategies, strengthens comprehensive care for survivors, and improves data collection systems. This last point is crucial, as more accurate data will enable better public policy design.
However, passing the law will not automatically eliminate the practice. One of the biggest challenges will be ensuring effective implementation, particularly in regions where the state has limited presence. Experience in other contexts shows that punitive measures alone are not enough and can sometimes be counterproductive.
That is why the bill’s comprehensive approach is essential: combining legal enforcement with education, intercultural dialogue, and community strengthening. In this process, Indigenous women will play a central role.
Their leadership has already driven meaningful progress and will be key to sustaining long-term change. Supporting these voices is not only effective but also critical to ensuring culturally respectful and legitimate solutions.
If passed, the law would have far-reaching implications. In terms of human rights, it would represent a major step forward in protecting girls, women, and people with the capacity to give birth. From a public health perspective, it would help reduce risks and improve the quality of life in historically underserved communities.
It would also carry strong symbolic weight. Colombia would no longer be the only country in Latin America with systematic records of FGM. Across the region, the practice is largely absent. While isolated cases have been reported in countries such as Peru and Ecuador, there is no evidence of a widespread or systematic pattern like the one documented in Colombia.
This makes Colombia both an outlier and a potential regional leader. Its experience could serve as a model for addressing FGM in specific cultural contexts, particularly through its emphasis on intercultural dialogue and community engagement.
At the same time, the issue raises broader questions about rights, cultural diversity, and autonomy. Latin America faces the ongoing challenge of respecting cultural identities while ensuring that no practice violates physical integrity or human dignity.
Beyond the law: transforming realities and closing long-standing gaps
The decline in cases in recent years is encouraging, but far from sufficient. Structural challenges remain, including underreporting, limited access to healthcare in rural areas, and longstanding inequalities affecting Indigenous communities.
The debate around FGM also invites a broader reflection on how societies address traditional practices. There is a growing consensus that the protection of life and physical integrity must be nonnegotiable. However, achieving this requires sensitivity, active listening, and sustained public policy efforts.
The final Senate vote will determine whether Colombia takes this historic step. But even if the law is approved, the real work will only begin. Eradicating FGM will require more than legislation. It will demand changes in practices, beliefs, and social conditions. It will also require a stronger state presence in historically marginalized territories and a commitment to ensuring that every girl grows up in a safe environment.
In light of this bill currently moving through Colombia’s Congress, a number of important questions also emerge — ones that invite deeper reflection: Can cultural traditions ever justify practices that harm children, or should human rights always take precedence? Is criminalizing female genital mutilation enough to end it in Colombia, or are deeper cultural and social transformations the real solution? How can Colombia protect girls from FGM while still respecting the autonomy and identity of Indigenous communities?
Colombia now has a unique opportunity to move toward a more just and inclusive society, one where no person’s bodily integrity is compromised in the name of tradition. The challenge is not just passing the law, but ensuring that it translates into real, lasting change in the communities where the risk of female genital mutilation remains.