Female Genital Mutilation Fact Sheet
also known Female Genital Cutting/ Female Circumcision
What is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)?
FGM is “any procedure that’s designed to alter or injure a girl’s (or woman’s) genital organs for non-medical reasons.”
It comprises all procedures involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or any other injury to
the genital organs. There are four types of FGM:
1. Clitoridectomy: partial or total removal of the clitoris 2. Excision: partial or total removal of the clitoris and
and, in very rare cases, only the prepuce (the fold of
the labia minora, with or without excision of the
skin surrounding the clitoris).
labia majora.
3. Infibulation: narrowing of the vaginal opening
4. Other: all other harmful procedures to the female
through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is
genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. pricking,
formed by cutting and repositioning the inner, or
piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the
outer, labia, with or without removal of the clitoris.
genital area.
It can have serious consequences on a person’s health and can even lead to death. Usual problems are infections,
severe pain, heavy bleeding. Long term problems include pain during sex, recurrent urinary tract infections, cysts,
abscesses and fertility problems, flashbacks and predictions. It can cause death during labour or for a child to be born
stillborn. It is not supported by any religious doctrine.
Background
It is not known when and where it originated from but it is presumed to have started around 400 BC. It has been
traced back to three centuries to African communities, pre-Islamic Arabs, Tsarist Russia and ancient Egyptian
Aristocracy. Female genital mutilation was originally practised to control female sexuality and various other methods
were used including the chastity belt, the Romans put rings into labia majora of female slaves. Because of the
predominance of the practice being concentrated in the Central, North and East Africa, Researchers and
Anthropologists believe it may have originated from these parts. It is believed to have originally been started my men
in primitive societies to control their women’s sexuality. (source – ACCUKM.com)
The Law
The Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 makes it an offence for anyone to:
 Perform FGM in the UK
 Assist in carrying out FGM in the UK
 Assist or coerce a girl to carry out FGM on herself
 Take someone out of the country to subject them to FGM
It is also an offence for UK nationals/permanent UK residents to perform FGM on any person overseas, even in
countries where it is not a criminal offence.
Who can be a Victim?
Procedures are mostly carried out on young girls sometime between infancy and age 15, and occasionally on adult
women. In Africa, more than three million girls have been estimated to be at risk for FGM annually. The World Health
Organisation estimates that over 20,000 girls under the age of 15 in the UK are at risk of FGM each year. It is
practiced in 28 countries in Africa and some in the Middle East and Asia, it is also found in the UK amongst members
of the migrant communities.
Further Information
This can be gained from NSPCC – they have an FGM Helpline 08000283550 fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk
Female Genital Mutilation Fact Sheet
also known Female Genital Cutting/ Female Circumcision
Table showing FGM Prevalence and Terms Used
Based on statistics from Amnesty International and US Government
COUNTRY
PREVALENCE
TYPE
Benin
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Central Africa Republic
Chad
Cote d’Ivoire
Djibouti
Egypt
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Iran
Kenya
Liberia
Mali
Mauritania
Niger
5-50%
Up to 70%
Local
45-50%
60%
Up to 60%
98%
85-95%
95%
70-90%
60-90%
15-30%
65-90%
Local
unknown
50%
50%
94%
25%
Local
2
2
1 and 2
1 and 2
2 and 3
2
2 and 3
1,2 and 3
1,2 and 3
1,2 and 3
2 and 3
2
1,2 and 3
1 and 2
unknown
1,2 and 3
2
1,2 and 3
1 and 2
2
Nigeria
60-90%
1,2 and 3
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Sudan
Tanzania
Togo
Turkey
Uganda
Zaire
20%
90%
98%
90%
18%
12%
unknown
5%
Local
2
2
3
2 and 3
2 and 3
2
unknown
1 and 2
2
TERM USED FOR FGM
Bagne, Gadja
Thara, Khitan, Khifad
Mekhnishab
Megrez, Absum
Niaka, Kuyungo, Musolula, Karoola
Fanadu di Mindjer
Xatna
Kutairi, Ichana
Ibi/Ugwu, Didabe fun omobirin,
Ila kiko fun omobirin
Sunna, Bondo, Sonde
Gudiniin
Halalys, Tahoor
Kadin Sunneti