FGM (Female Genital Mutilation)

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a term for procedures which include the partial or total removal of the external female genital organs, or injury to the female genital organs, for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons.

This procedure can cause blood loss or infection and may even prove fatal. In the longer term, women who have undergone some form of FGM are twice as likely to die in childbirth, and four times more likely to give birth to a still born child.

FGM is also described in other terms including female circumcision, cutting sunna, gudniin, halalays, tahur, megrez and khitan, among others.