I. Female Genital Mutilation
Female genital mutilation (FGM), sometimes referred to as female circumcision, is a practice
which involves the cutting away of all or part of the external female genitalia or all other
procedures involving other injury to the female genital organs.
This procedure is performed on approximately 2 million girls each year. Most of the girls and
women that have undergone FGM live in 28 African countries, although some live in Asia.1
(See the attached map and statistics).
Definition
Female genital mutilation comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the
external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural or
other non-therapeutic reasons.
Classification
The different types of female genital mutilation known to be practised are as follows:
Type I Excision of the prepuce, with or without excision of part or all of the clitoris
(also known as clitoridectomy).
Type II Excision of the clitoris with partial or total excision of the labia minora (also
known as excision).
Type III Excision of part or all of the external genitalia and stitching/narrowing of the
vaginal opening (infibulation, also known as Pharonic circumcision).
Type IV Unclassified: includes pricking, piercing or incising of the clitoris and/or labia;
stretching of the clitoris and/or labia; cauterisation by burning of the clitoris
and surrounding tissue; scraping of tissue surrounding the vaginal orifice
(angurya cuts) or cutting of the vagina (gishiri cuts); introduction of corrosive
substances or herbs into the vagina to cause bleeding or for the purposes of
tightening or narrowing it; and any other procedure that falls under the
definition of female genital mutilation given above.
The procedures described above are irreversible and their effects last a lifetime