Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) -- sometimes called female circumcision -- is surprisingly common throughout various parts of the world. As the name implies, female genital mutilation entails cutting out the external female genitalia including the clitoris and labia. This is often done on girls between birth and early teen years and leads to severe bleeding, childbirth complications, urinary disorders and death.
Earlier this year, we reported on a fatwa signed by religious and national Mauritanian leaders that banned FGM. Since then, others have banned female circumcision, including village officials in some Western African in the countries of Senegal and Mali and, in recent news, the Kenya Council of Imams and Ulamaa.
Despite the recent bans, many do still practice female genital mutilation on young girls. Here's a breakdown of the numbers on female genital mutilation in our world today.
By the numbers:
1,400: The number of years that female genital mutilation has been performed, though some references estimate that girls have endured FGM for up to 2000 years. The practice begun during what Muslims refer to as the "era of ignorance."
3: The different types of female genital mutilation. The three include circumcision, or amputation of the clitoris; excision, removal of the labia minora and clitoris; and infibulation, the removal of labia majora, clitoris and labia minora. Girls who receive the latter often have their wounds stitched together will only a tiny opening for urination. In addition to these types, the vagina may also undergo pricking, piercing, incisions, scraping, burning or be introduced to corrosive substances and herbs to tighten the opening.
135 million: The number of girls and women worldwide who've experienced gential cutting. Consequences of FGM range from urinary infections to HIV to sterility to death.
92 million: The number of African girls who are 10 years old and above that have had their genitals removed.
3 million: The number of girls who are at risk of undergoing FGM annually.
7 and 10: The most common period of time in a woman's life to undergo FGM, according to the United Nations Population Fund.
10 - 14: The number of days that girls legs are bound after undergoing female genital mutilation. The legs are bound to make the girls immobile, which allows scar tissue to form.
25: The number of countries that have banned FGM and prosecute those who continue the practice.
171: The number of countries in the world that do not ban female genital mutilation.
Wendy Rose Gould is a freelance journalist who resides in Phoenix. Her work has appeared both online and in print for Hearst, Conde Nast, AOL, USA Today and other publications. Gould is an avid traveler who has lived abroad and traveled the world extensively. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and another in Philosophy.
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