Giving Compass' Take:
- Lerato Mogoatlhe highlights five female activists who are fighting to stop female genital mutilation (FGM) in Africa.
- This article reports that some three million girls in Africa risk undergoing FGM every year. How can donors help support organizations aiming to stop this?
- Learn why ending female genital mutilation and cutting requires individualized approaches.
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Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a cruel reality for more than 200 million girls and women globally, while 3 million girls in Africa are at risk of undergoing FGM every year.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines FGM as all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia.
This includes injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. FGM procedures vary from type 1, which is a partial removal of the clitoris, to type 3, which is the most severe form of FGM.
Type 3 FGM means the complete removal of the clitoris and labia, followed by stitching the edges of the vulva together to prevent intercourse, says the WHO.
FGM is not just a horrific human rights violation, it also takes its toll on the mental and physical well-being of survivors. A pilot study that was supported by the WHO found that 30% of survivors showed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, while 80% had anxiety disorders.
FGM also comes with short-term health risks that include severe pain, as well as excessive bleeding, and genital tissue swelling that increases the risk of infection.
Now, as the world again marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM on Feb. 6, here are five activists leading the fight to end FGM in Africa.
- Jaha Dukureh, The Gambia
- Ifrah Ahmed, Somalia
- Mariam Dahir, Somaliland
- Shinina Shani, Kenya
- Rugiatu Turay, Sierra Leone
Read the full article about stopping female genital mutilation by Lerato Mogoatlhe at Global Citizen.