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Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C)
Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), comprises all procedures that involve the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia and/or injury to the female genital organs for cultural or any other non-therapeutic reasons. FGM/C, which is linked to deeply rooted traditions and some religious and cultural beliefs, is recognized as a human rights violation and is one of many manifestations of gender inequality.
In most cases, FGM/C is carried out in unhygienic and unsanitary conditions with unsterilized knives or blades (or any sharp instruments) without any anesthesia. Along with the risk of various infections and HIV transmission, risks include infertility, complications during childbirth, chronic pain and other long-term complications. FGM/C is usually performed on minor girls. Directly or indirectly, FGM/C can lead to death.
Save the Children is working to prevent FGM through community mobilization and reform. Through community awareness, strong legislation and enforcement and community-based programming, misconceptions about harmful practices can be broken down and eventually eradicated. Challenging gender norms is also an important part of this work. Save the Children is working with local authorities, traditional leaders and community members as well as involving and targeting churches, schools, mosques and religious leaders and elders in order to prevent and eradicate FGM/C. A reduction in FGM, sexual violence and child marriage will reduce the levels of maternal and infant mortality due to under-age pregnancies and unsafe pregnancies and delivery.
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Accelerating Change towards Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Effects of community dialogues on FGM/C and child marriage
Women and girls face extreme forms of violations in Somalia; common among them is Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C). National statistics estimates over 97% of girls aged 15 to 19 years have undergone FGM/C. To accelerate change towards reduction i
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International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education
The International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education offers recommendations for the scope of a Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) programme, as well as instructions on how to plan, implement, and monitor a CSE programme. This revised version o
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Changing Social Norms in Somalia: Baseline Report on CHANGES Project addressing women empowerment, female circumcision and early marriage
Somalia is ranked as one of the bottom five countries in terms of gender inequality. Besides high rates of poverty and vulnerability, the country is struggling to make progress in most social indicators. While high vulnerability to various insecurity and
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Violence Against Women: Facts everyone should know
Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation of pandemic proportions that takes place in public and private spaces. This interactive platform by UN Women lets users explore the topics of Intimate Partner Violence, Sexual Violence and Haras
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A State-of-the-Art Synthesis on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: What do we know now?
Due to the rising prominence of efforts to end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) among many national and global agendas, a clear understanding of scale and scope of the practice is needed. This “state-of-the-art synthesis offers a review of the mo
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FGM and Asylum in Europe
This mini-feature, a set of five articles published by Forced Migration, explores the practice of FGM in the context of asylum in Europe. FGM is the practice of Female Genital Mutilation, also known as FGM/C – female genital mutilation/cutting. Each artic
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Child Marriage and Female Circumcision (FGM/C): Evidence from Ethiopia
Child marriage and female circumcision are linked practices that are widespread in Sub-Saharan Africa; they are common traditions in Ethiopia. Although regional bodies and governments have made strong commitments to ending both practices, they still remai
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No Way Out: Child marriage and human rights abuses in Tanzania
Tanzania’s Marriage Act of 1971 sets the minimum age at 18 for boys and 15 for girls with parental consent. It also allows boys and girls to marriage at age 14 with a court’s approval. Human Rights Watch analyzed the child protection measures available in
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Exploring the links: Female genital mulitation/cutting and early marriage
Exploring the Links is based on both field and desk-based research undertaken by World Vision to explore and unearth the potential links between female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and early marriage. By looking at both shared social drivers and som
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Passing the Test- the real cost of being a student
This report examines the research undertaken by a consortium of government and non-government agencies working in Liberian schools, commissioned to research School Related Gender Based Violence. Of the students who responded and took part in the study, ne
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Female Genital Mutiliation is...
This short film introduces FGM (female genital mutilation) and what it really means for more than 125 million girls and women around the world. Plan International is working to eliminate all forms of violence against girls and women, including ending harm
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A Statistical Snapshot of Violence Against Adolescent Girls
This publication presents a statistical overview of different factors relating to violence against girls, especially adolescent girls. Despite recent improvements, many adolescent girls suffer violence of various kinds, which have adverse impacts on their