Every year around the world, about two million young girls are forced to endure female genital mutilation (FGM).

The ritual—practiced in as many as 28 African countries, as well as in some countries in the Middle East, Asia and South America—varies among communities in its severity, the age of girls, and the method used to circumcise. Most of the time, FGM is linked to traditional coming-of-age practices.

Three types of FGM procedures are performed:

• Clitoridectomy removes the clitoral hood and, sometimes, part of the clitoris.
• Excision removes the clitoris as well as part of the labia minora.
• Infibulation removes all external genetalia (clitoris, labia minora, and labia majora), and stitches the vaginal opening, leaving a small hole for urine and menstrual flow.

The health risks of FGM are high and can include:

• hemorrhaging
• shock
• infections such as tetanus and septicemia
• urine retention
• chronic bladder and vaginal infections
• cysts
• childbirth obstruction
• HIV infection (from using one unsterilized instrument on several girls)
• and the possibility of developing fistulas (a tear in the urethra or bowel which results in the girl being unable to control the flow of urine and excrement) during childbirth.

While FGM is a violation of the most fundamental rights to security and protection for girl children, the approach to ending the practice is not a simple one. Culturally sensitive education that empowers local communities to reach their own decisions about FGM is the key.

World Vision is There
World Vision is working to end FGM in the following ways:

• Religious and community leaders play an integral part in helping stop FGM in their communities. World Vision works with these local leaders to help raise awareness of FGM's negative consequences and identify alternative rites of passage that are culturally appropriate and are not harmful.
• World Vision works with the exciseurs (women who perform FGM and likely learned the trade from their mothers) to find alternative sources of income, such as raising sheep or goats, so that these women no longer need to rely on FGM to earn their living.
• World Vision staff members produce and distributes materials such as posters, T-shirts, and badges, and uses drama groups to educate girls on the dangerous effects of FGM.

Making Changes in Mali
In the Sourountouna region of Mali, people are changing their minds about FGM.

More than 93 per cent of women in the west African country have undergone FGM. But in Sourountouna, where World Vision has been campaigning to stop FGM for several years, two-thirds of people now say they believe FGM is harmful and want to participate in World Vision training on its effects.  

In addition to a shift in attitude toward FGM, the six women in charge of conducting all female circumcisions in the Sourountouna region made a public decision to stop the practice.

For the past 40 years, Nyamako Coulibaly has been performing excisions on about 20 girls a month. Through World Vision's training, she made the decision to turnover her blades and razors. World Vision helped her start a new business—raising sheep.

What You Can Do
Click here to donate to World Vision projects focused on helping girls at risk.