what is female genital mutilation

Female genital mutilation is a harmful practice where parts of a girl’s or woman’s external genitals are deliberately cut, injured, or removed for non- medical reasons, and it is internationally recognized as a violation of human rights.

What female genital mutilation is

Female genital mutilation (FGM), also called female genital cutting (FGM/C), includes any procedure that partially or totally removes the external female genitalia or otherwise injures the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. This can involve cutting, piercing, scraping, burning, or sewing closed parts of the vulva, such as the clitoris and labia.

FGM is usually carried out on girls between infancy and adolescence, and sometimes on adult women, depending on local customs. It is practiced in certain communities in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and also affects girls and women in Europe and North America through migration and diaspora communities.

Main types of FGM

Health and human rights organizations generally describe four major types of FGM.

• Type 1 (clitoridectomy): Partial or total removal of the clitoral glans (the visible part of the clitoris), and/or the clitoral hood.

• Type 2: Partial or total removal of the clitoral glans and the labia minora, with or without removal of the labia majora.

• Type 3 (infibulation): Narrowing of the vaginal opening by cutting and repositioning the labia to create a seal, sometimes with stitching, leaving only a small opening for urine and menstrual blood.

• Type 4: All other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, including pricking, piercing, incising, scraping, or cauterization (burning).

These types range from less extensive but still harmful injuries to very severe forms that can fundamentally alter anatomy and bodily functions.

Why it is considered harmful

FGM has no health benefits and can cause immediate and lifelong health problems. Short-term risks include severe pain, bleeding, infection, difficulty urinating, and even death from complications. Long-term consequences can include chronic pain, recurrent infections, problems with urination and menstruation, complications in childbirth, sexual dysfunction, and psychological trauma.

Because it is usually done on children who cannot give informed consent, FGM is widely recognized as a form of child abuse and gender-based violence. International bodies such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations classify it as a violation of the human rights of girls and women and are working with countries and communities to end the practice.

Why it is still practiced

Communities that practice FGM often justify it through social, cultural, or perceived religious reasons. Commonly cited motives include seeing it as a rite of passage into womanhood, a prerequisite for marriage, a way to control sexuality, or a requirement of tradition. However, major medical and human rights organizations, and many religious leaders, emphasize that FGM is not required by any religion and is medically and ethically unacceptable.

In recent years, FGM has been the subject of increasing global attention, campaigns, and legal reforms, and many countries have passed laws that criminalize the practice or taking a child abroad to undergo it.

If you need help or more information

Many health services now offer confidential support, medical care, and counseling for women and girls affected by FGM, including procedures to open infibulated scars (deinfibulation) and psychological support. If you or someone you know may be at risk, contacting a trusted healthcare provider, local support organization, or child protection service can be an important step toward safety and care.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.