FGM, which is sometimes called female circumcision, can take many forms but often includes the removal of the clitoris and some parts of the labia. It can cause lifelong health problems, including dangerous complications in childbirth. The United Nations identifies FGM as “an extreme form of discrimination against women and girls.” The World Health Organization says that FGM has no health benefits and estimates that worldwide 200 million women and girls have been subjected to it. In the roughly 30 countries around the world where FGM is still practiced, there can be deep-rooted stigma against those who do not go through with the procedure, which is often considered to be a crucial part of a “coming-of-age” ceremony. Credit: The Global Media Campaign to End FGM
