One Man’s Quest to End Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Mali

Sidi Haidara leads a community dialogue in Mopti, Mali, where families, young people and local leaders discuss girls' rights and ways to end female genital mutilation. Credit: UN Women/Dieneba Deme Opinion by UNFPA (united nations)Wednesday, September 16, 2026Inter Press Service UNITED NATIONS, September 16 (IPS) - In Mali, an estimated nine out of ten women and girls have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM). And for years, Sidi Haidara, a father and recognized leader in his community, believed the practice was simply part of life. Like many people in his community in central Mali, he saw it as a tradition passed down through generations – one that should be preserved.Today, he walks from village to village with a very different message: No tradition should come at the expense of a girl’s health, rights, or future.His story goes beyond one man’s personal transformation. Across parts of West and Central Africa, FGM remains deeply rooted – with Mali having one of the highest rates in the region and no laws that specifically criminalize the practice. Even recently, some men in Mali have launched an all-male pro-FGM campaign on the grounds of protecting tradition.In places where ...