FGM Survivor Turns Pain Into Purpose to End a Global Crisis
Over 230 million girls and women worldwide have survived female genital mutilation (FGM), according to the latest UN figures. The practice remains widespread in regions like eastern Ethiopia, Somalia, and parts of Asia, despite global efforts to end it. One survivor, Sara Aduse, has now dedicated her life to fighting FGM after experiencing its lasting harm firsthand.
Sara Aduse was born in Harar, Ethiopia, where she underwent FGM at just seven years old. The trauma left deep physical and psychological scars, shaping her mission to stop the practice. In Harar alone, 80% of girls still face FGM due to social pressure and a lack of education about its dangers.
Aduse took drastic steps to begin her activism. She sold or gave away nearly all her possessions to move back to Ethiopia, marking a fresh start. There, she founded the Nina House in Harar—a safe space where women and girls learn about FGM's consequences.
Her work extends beyond education. Aduse financially supports schoolgirls, but only if their families pledge to abandon FGM. She also speaks at international conferences and produces educational materials to raise awareness. Her goal is clear: to end FGM worldwide, a fight she plans to continue for the rest of her life.
The challenge remains immense. In Somalia, over 90% of women have undergone FGM, while in Sudan and Egypt, medicalised procedures persist. Indonesia reports over 60 million survivors, with urban areas seeing high rates performed by medical staff. Ethiopia's government aims to eliminate FGM by 2032, but progress has been slow.
FGM continues to affect millions, with UN estimates now exceeding 230 million survivors globally. Aduse's efforts in Ethiopia—through education, financial incentives, and advocacy—offer a direct response to the crisis. Yet the scale of the problem, from Harar to Indonesia, shows how much work remains to end the practice for good.
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