Lead Author: MORIN Anne
Co-Author(s): Yücel, Ozan
Published by: Orchid Project and Asia Network to End FGM/C
Year published: 2026
Kalimantan is the Indonesian name for the southern part of the island of Borneo, representing approximately 73% of its total area. The island of Borneo is divided between Indonesia, Malaysia, and the small state of Brunei, and is the name most commonly used to refer to the entire island in an international context, while Kalimantan is specific to the Indonesian part. Kalimantan is home to 6.15% of the Indonesian population, amounting to 16.6 million inhabitants. The prevalence of FGC among women aged Kalimantan women aged 15–64 years is 58.8%.
FGC is practised in all five provinces of Kalimantan. Data on FGC in Central and North Kalimantan are sparse, even more so than in West, South, and East Kalimantan.
In certain regions of Kalimantan, including Banjarmasin, Sambas, and Pontianak, FGC is documented in numerous sources as a practice introduced by Javanese migrants. FGC in Kalimantan is based on local hereditary traditions and culture and is believed to be mandatory among Muslims in order to cleanse girls from ritual impurities (najis).
