The most common type of female genital mutilation is excision of the clitoris and the labia minora, accounting for up to 80% of all cases; the most extreme form is infibulation, which constitutes about 15% of all procedures.

What are the Health Consequences of FGM?
Health is to be understood as a concept, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) defines as not only the absence of illness but a global concept of well being. The immediate and long-term health consequences of female genital mutilation vary according to the type and severity of the procedure performed and include:

Where does it occur?

According to estimates by the WHO, 130 million women and girls in the world have undergone Female Genital Mutilation and 2 million a year are at risk of mutilation, which represents approximately 6,000 new cases a day.

Female Genital Mutilation is known to be practiced in at least 25 countries in Africa, in some parts of Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia), in the Middle East (Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Egypt) and in industrialised countries (Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, USA), including in Member States of the European

Why is it practiced?
FGM has existed for more than 2000 years. The reasons evoked include:

What measures are taken?
Some local , national, European and international measures have been taken.

The phenomena of immigration have made many women aware that not every women is mutilated, therefore many associations, mainly formed by women themselves who have suffered mutilation work to combat it at different levels either by trying to avoid it happening in their new countries of reception or in their countries of origin.

Some religious leaders have decided to join in the combat to stop this practice and engage in raising awareness in their countries providing information of alternative practices which will not endanger the integral health and dignity of women.

Some countries have introduced legislation to prohibit the practice of FGM.

At European level an International Day against the FGM was organized on 29th of November in the European Parliament on the initiative of MEP, Emma Bonino. A European Resolution was called for in which the link between FGM and asylum protection is proposed. Other measures, include:

Further information
FGM Education and Networking Project: www.fgmnetwork.org

ICRH-International Centre for Reproductive Health: www.icrh.org

GTZ-Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (EN, FR, DE): www.gtz.de/fgm/

Further reading

Mon Jardin devaste by Mdm. Khadia Pinteon- Diallo
The Struggle against FGM : The European experience . Els , Leye . International Centre of Reproductive Health (ICRH).
Procedings of the expert meeting on FGM (Ghent — Belgium Nov. 5 —7, 1998)
Prevention of Female Circumcision. National Board of Health. Denmark
UNFPA’s approach to eradicating FGM (Fact sheet n° 1)
FGM Fact sheet . World Health Organisation (WHO).

Links - Female Genital Mutilation

Very comprehensive sites

· FGM Education and Networking Project: delivers background information in English, access to newsgroups, international contacts (advocacy groups). www.fgmnetwork.org

· ICRH-International Centre for Reproductive Health: Information in English within the more general issue of reproductive health, about the projects “FGM among migrants in Europe” and “European Network for the prevention of FGM” which are promoted by the European Commission www.icrh.org and www.icrh.org/index-f.htm, comprehensive medical information and list of educational material available in Europe

· GTZ-Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit: German governmental organisation for international cooperation, delivering information, education, funding projects. General sites are in English and German, sites on FGM in French as well www.gtz.de/fgm

Less comprehensive but attractive sites

· FORWARD-Foundation for Women’s Health, Research and Development: engaged in the fight against FGM since 1985, based in London, educational and supportive activities (English). www.forward.dircon.co.uk

· RAINBO- Research, Action and Information Network for the Bodily Integrity of Women: good organised English site including general information, adcive for physicians and many organisation’s and media addresses, www.rainbo.org

· RHO-Reproductive Health Outlook/Harmful Traditional Practices: Spread Information about FGM and other Harmful Traditional Practices, main emphasis on education for local health care staff. Sites in English www.rho.org/html/hthps_progexamples.htm and staff www.rho.org/html/hthps_overview.htm#fgc

· IAC-Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children, organisation which coordinates efforts to eradicate FGM and other Harmful Traditional Practices, sites deliver basic information, African Declarations and IAC-Recommendations, English and some French sites; www.iac-ciaf.ch

· TOSTAN-international NGO based in Senegal, run by local people, site in English www.tostan.org

· DAFI-Deutsch-Afrikanische Frauen-Initiative: organisation of African and German experts, situated in Berlin, providing information, education and advice for migrants; very comprehensive list of literature, contact adresses; sites in English and German

· TERRE DES FEMMES: women’s rights organisation in Germany, dealing with the issue since the early 80’s, site gives basic information, introduces local African projects they support, sites are in German, an English summary is given.

other websites

· RISING DAUGHTERS AWARE: English sites built for affected women and professionals dealing with the issue www.fgm.org

· AME-Association contre la mutiliation des enfants: organisation engaged for childrens’ rights, sites deal with male and female genital mutilation and are built as a collection of articles in French and English www.enfant.org