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Cairo, Egypt, May 13, 2025: Since the outbreak of Sudan's catastrophic war in April 2023, more than a million people have fled to nearby Egypt in search of evacuation. Both countries have laws prohibiting genital mutilation (FGM), but despite this, Sudan and Egypt have the highest percentage of FGM worldwide. A timely new study, genital mutilation of women among Sudanese immigrants in Greater Cairo: perceptions and trends, by Tadwayne, current equality and gender studies, provides valuable insight into how transition and exposure to new cultural environments and social networks are affecting FGM practices among Sudanese families in Egypt.
In-depth interviews revealed a positive attitude towards FGM abandonment. Young educated individuals and women with personal experiences of FGM harm expressed some of the strongest opposition to continuing the practice, while men often cited the negative effects of FGM on marital intimacy as an important reason for the cancellation.
However, FGM is seen as a means of maintaining cultural identity and status and as an integral part of social acceptance. Many interviewees thought that families who accepted FGM in Sudan were likely to continue doing so in Egypt.
Dr. Dima Dabbs from Equality explains: “Our research reveals the complex and diverse ways in which Egyptian Sudanese immigrants support, modify or reject deep cultural practices like FGM.
Sudan and Egyptian FGM
FGM is internationally recognized as a serious human rights violation, including partial or complete removal or damage to external female genitals for non-medical reasons. It has been found in at least 94 countries and affects over 230 million women and girls, including 144 million in Africa, but it has no health benefits and is deeply rooted in gender discrimination and attempts to control the bodies and sexuality of women and girls.
Data from the recent national-level survey of Sudan 2014 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey showed that 86.6% of women aged 15 to 49 had FGM, dropping to 66.3% of girls from birth to 14.
Many families are carried out as a prerequisite for passing into femininity and marriage, with many families fearing that their uncut daughter might have trouble finding a husband, and pressure is intensified by the perceived shame reflected in the stigma and relatives surrounding unmarried women. Religious misconceptions also play an important role, with many mistakenly believing that certain types of FGM are a requirement of Islam.
In Egypt, approximately 86% of women aged 15 to 49 receive FGM.
Women in both Egyptian and Sudan often feel pressured to follow traditional practices supported by their families and communities, and it can be very difficult to resist without the support of their husbands and social networks. Women with high levels of education and wealth are more likely to reject FGM and refrain from cutting down their daughters.
There is a trend towards medicalization in Sudan. This shift is even more pronounced in Egypt, with an estimated 74% of FGM procedures being implemented by health practitioners. This is one of the highest rates in the world. Medicalization is misrepresented as a safe alternative, but does not rule out physical and psychological risks. FGM remains a fundamental violation of human rights, and the involvement of healthcare professionals does not make this practice safe, ethical or legal.
Egypt has strict laws to combat FGM, including long sentences for parents and those who are carrying out FGM, and medical professionals have higher penalties. Escorting a victim is subject to criminal sanctions. However, as many still support FGM, the law is rarely implemented and they don't want their families to be charged. That is, the incidents are often not reported to the authorities.
Continuation or abandonment of FGM
Perceptions of the laws banning FGM in Sudan and Egypt differed widely among those interviewed for the study. The assumption that Egypt has a strict anti-FGM penalty has encouraged a careful approach that fears several fears, including deportation. The older generations were generally more informed, but were unable to identify legal penalties.
In Sudan, older women are often the leading decision-makers on FGM and tend to support continuing practice. However, this helped reduce family pressure on Sudanese girls in Egypt, as some older families remain in Sudan.
Most of the study participants explained that Egyptians generally retain negative perceptions of Sudanese immigration, which could lead to weaker relationships. As a result, interviewees thought it was unlikely that many Sudanese families would seek information about FGM from Egyptian sources or ask Egyptian doctors to perform FGM.
Financial difficulties and the need to provide basic necessities such as housing and food have contributed to delays or cancellations of FGM. Dr. Amal Farmee, a native of Tadwine, gender studies, explained: “What we see is a quiet and powerful transformation from FGM. Women are protecting their daughters and often choosing to prioritize food, shelters and education over cultural traditions.”
However, financial incentives can also perpetuate FGM. While some view it as a way to improve the prospects of daughters' marriage and ensure a financial future, the need for traditional midwives to earn income poses a risk that FGM will be carried out.
The migration of Sudanese families to Egypt led to the creation of a close social network called “Small Sudan.” While most survey participants spoke about the continuation of FGM, some acknowledged that there were families who were deeply attached to customs such as FGM. Elderly women were particularly skeptical of the deterrent effects of the law, and believed that resolved families would secretly avoid restrictions.
Concerns about stigma and suspicion surrounding her daughter's sexual behavior were cited as reasons to maintain FGM. Some people see it as a way to control sexual activity, especially after moving to Egypt. They feared that if their daughter was not cut, she would engage in unacceptable activities.
Recommendations
Key recommendations include growing awareness among Sudan's immigrant communities regarding Egypt's anti-FGM laws and negative legal and health effects. Empowering parents, especially mothers, with accurate information and practical tools to resist social and familial pressures.
Enchanting trustworthy people within the “little Sudanese” community, such as elders, grandmothers, midwifes, and faith leaders, is important for changing attitudes. Outreach efforts should challenge the misconception that FGM is a religious requirement, and customized advocacy should promote an understanding of the human rights perspective that addresses the way gender inequality maintains FGM.
Ending FGM among Sudanese migrant families requires a holistic, community-centric approach that addresses both the causes of post-migration practices and the evolving dynamics. Investing in further research, particularly longitudinal and community-based research, can help track attitudes and practices that change over time and inform more targeted and effective interventions.
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Notes for the editor
For media enquiries, please contact Tara Carey, Global Head of Media, Equality Now, tcarey@equalitynow.org, T. Contact +44(0)7971556340 (available on WhatsApp and Signal).
Summary: Tadwein, a gender researcher, was founded in 2016 to spread evidence-based awareness on gender issues, implement projects, develop policies and take necessary action to enhance the status of women in Egyptian society and reduce violence against women in general. For more information, visit https://tadwein.org/ and LinkedIn at Tadwein.
For more information about Tadwein in Gender Studies, visit www.tadwein.org and find us on Facebook at Tadwein/تدوين.
Tadwein's LinkedIn for Gender Studies.
Summary: Equality is an international human rights organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the rights of all women and girls around the world. The work is organized around four major programmatic areas, including achieving legal equality, ending sexual violence, ending harmful practices, and ending sexual exploitation.
Equality now combines grassroots activities with legal advocacy at the international, regional and national level to achieve systemic change and work with local partners to ensure that governments will enact and enforce laws and policies that support the rights of women and girls.
For more information on equality now, visit www, equalitynow.org and find us at bluesky @equalitynow.bsky.social, instagram @equalitynoworg, linkedin now now mena & Africa.
For more information about FGM worldwide, check out Equality's report now for 2025. This is the time for now. The urgent need for female genital mutilation/cutting, global response – 5 years update
Also, see Equality Now's Journalists on Female Genital Mutilation Handbook, Africa, Global Edition to help media experts and others report on FGM.
