At least 100 million girls and women have undergone genital mutilation

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FGM is an extreme form of violence and inequality that violates the human rights of women and girls

At least 100 million girls and women of childbearing age have undergone FGM/C in 30 countries, according to a new scientific study, and the number is likely to be even higher, as accurate figures are not available for some regions. Although there is at least a slight downward trend over time in most countries (in 26), scientists report that much more needs to be done to address the problem.

The researchers, led by Steven McCall of the American University of Beirut, who made the relevant publication in the medical journal “PLOS Medicine”assessed evidence from 30 studies, of which 23 were from Africa, six from the eastern Mediterranean and one from SE Asia.

In total, the surveys involved 406,048 women from 30 countries and 296,267 girls from 25 countries. It found that almost 37% of women aged 15-49 and 8.3% of girls aged 0-15 had undergone FGM.

FGM is an extreme form of violence and inequality that violates the human rights of women and girls. According to the World Health Organization, it is a harmful non-medical traditional practice that has long-term health as well as economic consequences, which is why it calls for its end by 2030.

The new study (systematic review and meta-analysis) reports that several countries such as Egypt, Somalia, Sudan, Indonesia, Mali and Guinea will not reach this target unless they take more drastic measures to to put an end to mutilations.

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