The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which falls on 6 February, aims to spread greater awareness about this human-rights abusive practice affecting millions of girls, young women and women around the world, with very serious consequences on their physical and psychological health. The theme of the 2025 edition of the Day, established by the UN, is Stepping Up the Pace: Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End Female Genital Mutilation.

To raise awareness of the issue, institutions, associations and others organise various initiatives, including meetings, seminars and training days. The following list contains some examples of these events.

SPEAK up. Giving voice to younger generations for the prevention of FGM is the meeting of the Y-Act (Youth in Action) project in Brussels (European Parliament). For more information about the meeting and Y-Act, please visit the Amref Italy website.

The city of Milan will host the V Summit Itinerante (Travelling Summit). World Zero Tolerance Day against Female Genital Mutilation: Prevent, Heal, Rebuild. Institutions, associations, healthcare. Together for Change. This is a meeting organised by the Italian Society of Reconstructive Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery in collaboration with ActionAid. The full programme is available on the ActionAid website.

The Italian National Institute of Health has organised Countering Female Genital Mutilation: Awareness and Action. An in-depth article published to commemorate this Day can be consulted on the Institute’s website.

Nosotras has taken action to raise awareness on the issue by promoting a training day entitled MGF: Victims, Legal and Social Protection. The programme can be found on the association's website.

To explore the theme of the Day from a legal perspective, please consult the legislative framework produced by the National Documentation and Analysis Centre for Childhood and Adolescence.

Further materials and news can be found on this site under Female genital mutilation, accessible from the “Topics” navigation menu.