Female Genital Mutilation

Female Genital Mutilation is a hugely contentious issue worldwide. According to a report published by the  WHO, UNESCO, UNIFEM and others, FGM is practiced in 28 African countries, in parts of Asia and the Middle East. However, it is increasingly found in Europe, Canada, the US, Australia and Asia – mostly within immigrant communities.

Female Genital Mutilation/cutting is defined as ‘the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons’ (WHO report definition). Source: https://www.childinfo.org/files/fgmc_WHOUNICEFJointdeclaration1997.pdf

Kenya has now become one of the latest African country to ban FGM making it illegal to practice it, to take somebody abroad to perform it and also prohibits making derogatory comments about women who have not undergone FGM. Read more on this story on the Guardian’s Global Health Blog and this article.

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