Egypt is one of the countries with a high Female Genital Mutilation prevalence with a current prevalence of 87.2%. The history of FGM in Egypt dates back to Pharaonic times and the origin of FGM has been traced to the coast of the Red sea. The population of Egypt suggests that the country has the highest number of women and girls who have been cut of any country in the world. It is a longstanding tradition that remains a rite of passage and is often viewed as a way to promote chastity. Although studies have confirmed that FGM is declining in Egypt, with a steady decline in FGM among cohorts of girls born 1987 to 2010. There are however reports of people carrying out the practice publicly. The success story of the rapid decline in the past few decades across several parts of the countries —  rural and urban shows that the eradication of the practice is possible.

FGM was banned in Egypt in 2008 and the laws have been toughened, but more than the passing of laws, the enforcement is much more important. The government and civil society organisations have employed various strategies in tackling FGM such as awareness campaign, field visits, and tougher penalties. Maximum jail term for performing FGM was increased from 7 years to 20 years, while doctors involved will be banned from practising for up to 5 years. The family member of the girl or woman cut would also be imprisoned according to the new law. This sounds good and seems like an effective way of curbing the practice but the law will remain on paper only if necessary actions are not taken to ensure full implementation. The focus of the government needs to be shift to enforcement of the laws whereby perpetrators of FGM are duly prosecuted. FGM cannot be eliminated until all law enforcement agencies take the issues seriously. As long as they see FGM as a beneficial practice for the girl child, cases would go unprosecuted.

Reports have shown that FGM is still practiced in Egypt, this is prominent in the rural area, and health care providers also carry out FGM in the clinics. Because it is rooted in the cultural practices of people, some doctors and judges believe FGM is not a crime. The belief in the practice is the major driving force that the laws are even finding difficult to break. Working on changing social behaviour such as FGM should therefore be approached from several perspectives, especially activities targeted at shifting the mindset of people relating to a behaviour. Interventions need to be intensified on a community basis, women and girls need to rise up against the cuttings.