Colombia’s Senate approved a Colombia FGM ban on Wednesday after two years of debate, moving the country closer to outlawing the practice. The bill now requires the President’s approval.
If Petro signs it, Colombia would become the first Latin American country to pass such legislation, AFP reported.
The World Health Organisation says female genital mutilation can cause serious health damage, create a risk of death and violate girls’ fundamental rights. NGO Equality Now believes Colombia is the only country in Latin America where the practice continues.
Officials recorded 204 cases of female genital mutilation between 2020 and 2025, though advocates believe the number is sharply underreported.
AFP reported in April from western mountainous coffee-growing areas that include ancestral territories of the Embera Chami and Katio peoples.
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Female genital mutilation affects hundreds of girls in those communities. Alejandrina Guasorna, a 74-year-old farmer, told AFP she learned as an adult that her clitoris had been removed shortly after birth.
Embera Indigenous leader Juliana Domico rejected the practice during debate on the Senate floor. “This is not a cultural practice, absolutely not. It is a harmful practice that was imposed,” Domico said.
