My opinion on Cross-Border FGM: Lessons for Togo

by Grace Victor

After reading the UNFPA/ESARO policy brief on cross-border female genital mutilation (FGM), I was struck by how this harmful practice continues to adapt in order to survive. The brief highlights a disturbing trend in parts of East Africa, where families and practitioners cross national borders to evade domestic laws banning FGM. Despite legal prohibitions, cultural pressure, weak enforcement, and porous frontiers make it possible to carry out the procedure in areas where monitoring is minimal. This movement across borders often exploits differences in legal punishments, uneven implementation, and long-standing ethnic or cultural ties that span multiple countries.

What stood out to me most was the idea that ending FGM is no longer just a national challenge it is a regional one. The document shows how enforcement, awareness, and prevention efforts must extend beyond a single country’s borders. Without collaboration between governments, civil society, health sectors, and law enforcement across borders, entire communities will continue finding ways around the law. The brief also warns that the growing medicalization of FGM where health workers perform the procedure in more hygienic settings can give a false sense of legitimacy and make eradication even harder.

As a young Togolese humanist, I reflected on whether similar dynamics exist in my own country. In Togo, the national prevalence of FGM among women aged 15 to 49 is relatively low at around 3 percent. However, this national figure hides important regional differences. In the Centrale Region, the rate exceeds 13 percent, and in the Savanes Region it is over 7 percent. Although Togo criminalized FGM in 1998 and reinforced this in the 2015 Penal Code, enforcement has been weak, and very few prosecutions have ever been documented. Most procedures continue to be performed by traditional practitioners, often without anesthesia or sterilized tools. Fortunately, medicalization of FGM is not yet widespread in Togo, but there are legal loopholes that could be misused in the future.

Based on available evidence, cross-border FGM is not currently recognized as a major issue in Togo. There are no prominent reports of families crossing into Ghana, Benin, or Burkina Faso specifically to carry out FGM. Unlike many East African border regions, West Africa has different prevalence patterns and legal approaches, which might partially explain the difference. However, the absence of documentation does not mean we are safe. Border communities often share ethnic identities, traditions, and social expectations. In areas where cultural pressure remains strong and government presence is limited, cross-border movement for FGM could become a reality if vigilance fades.

The East African experience offers valuable lessons for us. Declining prevalence in Togo should not lead to complacency. As long as some families still view FGM as a marker of identity, purity, or marriageability, there is always a risk of adaptation and relocation. Weak enforcement or unclear legal provisions could push the practice underground or across national frontiers. To prevent that, Togo needs to remain proactive. Strengthening local enforcement, empowering border communities with education and reporting mechanisms, and harmonizing laws with neighboring countries can help close potential gaps. Collaboration between civil society organizations, youth networks, health workers, and local leaders is essential for keeping prevention alive.

The policy brief also reinforces the importance of community dialogue and social norm change. In Togo’s higher-prevalence regions, it is not enough to rely on criminalization. Ending FGM requires meaningful engagement with those who uphold the traditions elders, religious leaders, traditional cutters, and parents. Young people, especially girls, should be equipped with knowledge about bodily rights and health consequences. Without these efforts, enforcement alone cannot succeed.

In the end, the report reminded me that eliminating FGM by 2030 is not just an international slogan it is a complex journey requiring cooperation, creativity, and persistence. Togo’s progress is encouraging, but not guaranteed. By learning from the challenges of cross-border FGM in East Africa, we can avoid repeating the same mistakes. As a Togolese humanist and youth advocate, I believe our role is to speak out, stay alert, and help build a culture where no girl’s body must be crossed or cut to satisfy tradition.