Today is the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), sometimes referred to as female circumcision, refers to procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. FGM/C is usually carried out on young girls between infancy and the age of 15, commonly before puberty starts. The procedure is traditionally carried out by a women with no medical training, with no anaesthetics and using common tools such as knives, scissors or razors.
There are no health benefits to FGM; removing and damaging health and normal female genital tissue only interferes with national functions of girls and women’s bodies. FGM/C causes a raft of complications and long-term health complications, sometimes resulting in death. It also causes extreme trauma and psychological harm to young girls entering a delicate time in their lives and can have life-long psychological and socio-economic implications.
FGM/C is one of the most extreme manifestations of gender inequality. It is a clear human rights violation that has affected more than 125 million women in Africa today. Women and girls all around the world are subjected to this practise, including an estimated 137,000 in England and Wales. In parts of Africa, it’s estimated that over 90% of women aged between 15 and 50 have been cut. And though the scale may vary across the world, every single instance of FGM/C denies women and girls the right to live the lives of their choosing, free from violence and discrimination.
The UK has made a significant financial commitment – £35 million over 5 years - to support an African led movement to end FGM/C.
