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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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State of World Population 2020: Against my will- Defying the practices that harm women and girls and undermine equality
Opening with a powerful Call to Action from UNFPA's Executive Director and United Nations Under-Secretary-General Dr. Natalia Kanem, this report focuses on three harmful practices: femal genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage, and son preference. Year 2
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Qualitative Study to Identify Positive Deviants for Female Genital Mutiliation/Cutting (FGM/C) in Selected Districts in Sierra Leone
This research evidence about female gential mutilation in Sierra Leone was generated to help develop innovative strategies that strenghten the demand for FGM/C abandonment and to raise awareness around the subject. In Sierra Leone the term "joining Bondo"
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The Socioeconomic Dynamics of Trends in Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Across Africa
This article explores the socioeconomic dynamics of changing prevalence in female genital mutilation-cutting (FGM/C) across Africa. Among the findings is the suggestion that, as countries transition from higher to lower prevalence of FGM/C, the socioecono
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Conducting Public Inquiries to Eliminate Female Genital Mutilation
This primer was developed by the UNFPA and is intended for national human rights institutionsas a resource for planning and conducting a public inquiry on female genital mutilation in countries where female genital mutilation is prevalent. The original
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Enabling Environments for Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation
The policy brief evaluates to what extent the UN Member States and their cross-country contexts partners have been able to prevent and respond to female genital mutilation through an implemented comprehensive and multisectoral approach. The influence of C
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Resilience in Action: Lessons learned from the joint programme during the COVID-19 crisis
The UNFPA has estimated that two million cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) will take place during the COVID-19 pandemic that otherwise would have been avoided. Realizing the limited research on FGM in the COVID-19 crisis, this brief was developed
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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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Seventeen Ways to End FGM/C: Lessons from the field
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 li
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Thirty-Year Trends in the Prevalence and Severity of Female Genital Mutilation: A comparison of 22 countries
Female genital mutilation (FGM) refers to the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injuries to female genital organs for non-therapeutic reasons. FGM harms women's and girls' health and wellbeing and is widely considered a vi