Lead Author: MORIN Anne
Co-Author(s): Yücel, Ozan
Published by: Orchid Project and Asia Network to End FGM/C
Year published: 2026
Located at the heart of the Indonesian archipelago, Sulawesi extends its four distinct peninsulas forming a boundary among the Celebes, Java, and Banda Seas. Sulawesi is home to 7.36% of the Indonesian population, amounting to approximately 19.9 million inhabitants. Sulawesi is made up of South, Southeast, Central, West, Gorontalo, and North provinces. The main ethnic groups in Sulawesi are the Bugis and Makassar in the South province, the Muna in Southeast province, the Toro in Central Sulawesi, the Mandar in West province, the Gorontalo in Gorontalo province, and the Mongondow in North province.
Sulawesi has the highest prevalence of FGC across Indonesia (70.5%), which is driven by traditional practices of Makkatte among the Bugis, which is a life-cycle event performed on girls between the ages of 4-7 years; and the Mo Polihu Lo Limu (lemon bath) tradition in Gorontalo. These traditions drive continued prevalence in this region and embed FGC within cultural practices.
