‘My grandmother subjected my baby to female genital mutilation behind my back’

Colombia Leads Latin America in Criminalizing Female Genital Mutilation

Ninoda.com – Activists are celebrating a historic achievement as Colombia becomes the inaugural Latin American nation to outlaw female genital mutilation. The legislation, which received unanimous approval in Congress, marks the culmination of years of dedicated effort to eliminate this often-hidden practice. According to reports by José Carlos Cueto, the new law addresses a procedure that remains dangerous and frequently concealed within certain communities.

A Personal Tragedy Sparks Change

Carla Quiñonez, whose name has been altered for privacy, experienced the devastating reality of this tradition firsthand. When her infant daughter reached six months of age, the baby’s great-grandmother performed the mutilation without Carla’s knowledge. Upon returning the child, the grandmother found her granddaughter suffering from fever, swelling, and bleeding, with constant crying.

“I confronted my grandmother, but she said it was normal and that I could not tell anyone.”

Because the closest medical facility required considerable travel, Carla’s mother—who works as a midwife—attempted to soothe the infant using traditional herbal remedies. She also directly challenged the elder woman’s actions, though her concerns were dismissed. The grandmother maintained that men ridicule women possessing a clitoris.

Understanding the Practice and Its Consequences

Female genital mutilation encompasses the partial or complete removal of external female reproductive organs, alongside other non-medical injuries to these structures. The procedure can trigger serious medical issues such as hemorrhaging and infections, while creating future complications during menstruation and delivery. Additionally, it may reduce a woman’s capacity for sexual satisfaction.

The World Health Organization estimates that over 230 million girls and women globally have undergone this procedure, with the majority residing in African nations. Carla Quiñonez, now thirty years old, has dedicated herself to eliminating the custom among Colombia’s Emberá Indigenous population. Together with other advocates and congressional members, she contributed significantly to securing the legislative ban.

Uncovering Hidden Deaths

Carla explains that she only recognized the secret practices occurring within her community as she matured. She recalls questioning why female infants appeared to perish at higher rates than males.

“I always wondered why more girls than boys seemed to die shortly after birth.”

She remembers a young cousin whose delivery Carla’s mother attended. Despite being born healthy, the infant passed away three days later. When Carla inquired about the cause, her mother attributed it to “jai,” an ancestral condition. Carla now understands that these girls likely succumbed to complications arising from FGM rather than the supposed illness.

Medical Professionals Call for Greater Awareness

Between 2020 and June 2026, Colombian authorities documented 240 instances of female genital mutilation. Nearly all victims were under six years of age. However, pediatrician Diana Ramos Mosquera contends that official figures represent merely “the tip of the iceberg.”

Based at San Jorge University Hospital in Pereira—a city situated in Colombia’s northwestern coffee-producing area—Dr. Ramos has observed evidence of scarring, burning, and mutilation during examinations of girls presenting with unrelated health concerns. She describes one particular case involving a child whose vaginal opening had completely sealed, potentially preventing menstruation and sexual activity in adulthood. The girl required reconstructive surgery to address the condition.

“She had to undergo reconstructive surgery,” Dr Ramos says.

Dr. Ramos views FGM as a form of sexual and gender-based violence with enduring effects, yet emphasizes that education must accompany punitive measures. She notes that certain community members genuinely feel they are causing no damage through their actions.

Community Roots and Theories

Juliana Domico, who serves as legal representative for the Emberá Confederation, championed the legislative effort. The Great Emberá Nation comprises approximately 300,000 individuals and stands among Colombia’s most substantial Indigenous groups, with additional populations in Ecuador and Panama.

One explanation for why the Emberá maintain this practice while most Latin American regions have abandoned it involves the arrival of enslaved Africans. This theory accounts for the practice’s concentration in Risaralda, Chocó, and Valle del Cauca—departments that either host or border significant Afro-Colombian communities.

A second hypothesis traces the custom to an intersex child born centuries ago, which instilled fear regarding the clitoris. Many elderly women in the community believe the organ will develop into a penis unless removed. Others attribute the tradition to different origins entirely.