Female Genital Cutting Affects Millions in the World

A petition that Internet users can sign sends a message to U.S. politicians to help end this serious world problem.

(SALEM, Ore.) - A growing number of women's rights advocates are calling for an end to the practice of Female Genital Cutting: described as an invasive cultural practice that removes part or all of the external female genitalia.

It may be a tough subject for western minds to grab, but this act is dangerous yet remains very common in Africa and parts of Asia and the Middle East.

It is reported that up to 140 million girls and women worldwide are currently living with the consequences of FGC.

This is a daily, ongoing problem with an estimated 3 million girls in Africa presently at risk of undergoing female genital cutting every year. Activists say this number soars when girls at risk all around the world are added into the figure.

Medical experts say FGC causes serious psychological and health complications. It's no surprise when you consider that the practice is often done under unsanitary conditions and without any type of anesthesia.

The average age of girls forced to undergo FGC is between 4 and 12. There are no health benefits of FGC.

You can help stop the practice of Female Genital Cutting by telling the new president to fight for human rights, and stop FGC.

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Comments Leave a comment on this story.

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.

Lorraine Whyte April 27, 2013 6:46 am (Pacific time)

Thanks so much for getting back to me so soon. I followed the link to care2 but the picture they use is a different one. I was hoping to use this one because the girl is so young and it would evoke a more powerful reaction against the practice. The website state's you should contact the artist of the picture directly, would you still have the direct link to the photo? Kind Regards

Lorraine Whyte April 26, 2013 7:43 am (Pacific time)

Hi, I really enjoyed the article. Im doing an assignment for college on FGM and was wondering if I could use the photo?

Hi Lorraine, the source for that image is care2, please drop them a line with that question, if you don't have any luck I'm sure I can help you locate something that will be OK to use, it is extremely important, thanks.

Kathleen Legler January 27, 2009 7:15 pm (Pacific time)

Q: what is the difference between enforced female genital cutting and enforced male genital cutting? A: None. End forced genital cutting on ALL children of both sexes. Worldwide. www.nocirc.org http://www.circumstitions.com/FGMvsMGM.html

Snoozer January 27, 2009 6:19 pm (Pacific time)

Every time I read about someone who is a victim of this, or any one of a huge array of barbaric mistreatements that people commit against each other, it reminds me that the problem is really a lack of human rights. A lack of respect for the idea of human rights being universal. When we reject that notion, then we degenerate into campaigns against slavery, against genital manipulation, against honor killings, and the list grows to as many single items as groups can organize against. But the problem is not just genital mutilation... nor just slavery. It's that we as "free" people have abandoned our belief in and dedication to those universal rights that our Constitution's Preamble says are man's inherent birthright. All men. All colors, all races, even all cultures. And for all those who do not have them, we as humans have an unending and sacred responsibility to work toward those who do not gaining them.

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