哥伦比亚国会全票通过法案，将女性生殖器切割（FGM）定为非法，使该国成为拉丁美洲首个采取此类立法措施的国家[1]。这一举措针对的是在部分土著社区中长期存在的传统做法，该做法造成了严重的医学和心理健康后果。
根据记录，2020年至2026年6月间哥伦比亚共报告了240例女性生殖器切割案例，其中大多数受害者年龄在6岁以下[1]。受害者卡拉·基尼翁斯的经历突显了这一做法的危害——她的女儿在仅六个月大时遭受切割，随后出现发烧、肿胀和出血等并发症[1]。基尼翁斯因倡导改变而受到威胁，尤其来自男性[1]。
世界卫生组织数据显示全球有超过2.3亿女孩和妇女遭受过此类切割，主要集中在非洲[1]。在哥伦比亚，埃姆贝拉民族约有30万成员，是该国最大的土著社区之一[1]。儿科医生迪亚娜·拉莫斯指出，官方记录的案例仅是"冰山一角"[1]。土著权利倡导者和医疗专业人士强调，需要通过教育而非单纯惩罚来解决这一问题[1]。
Colombia has enacted legislation making female genital mutilation (FGM) illegal, becoming the first country in Latin America to do so, with the bill passing unanimously through Congress [1]. The law addresses a practice that has caused significant harm within indigenous communities, particularly among the Embera people, one of Colombia's largest indigenous groups with approximately 300,000 members [1].
The personal testimony of Kara Quinones illustrates the devastating consequences of the practice [1]. Her daughter underwent FGM at just six months old without her knowledge, resulting in fever, swelling, and bleeding [1]. Between 2020 and June 2026, Colombia documented 240 cases of FGM, with the majority of victims under six years old [1]. Quinones has become an advocate for ending the tradition but has faced threats for her efforts, particularly from men within her community [1].
Medical professionals and indigenous rights advocates emphasize that education rather than punishment alone is essential to addressing FGM [1]. Pediatrician Diana Ramos has stated that recorded cases represent only "the tip of the iceberg," suggesting the actual prevalence may be substantially higher [1]. Globally, the World Health Organization reports that over 2.3 billion girls and women have undergone FGM, with concentrations primarily in Africa [1].