According to UNICEF, more than 125 million of the women alive today have suffered some form of genital mutilation; and 30 million young girls will run the risk of female circumcision during the next decade. This practice is common in a number of countries, particularly in Africa and the Middle East.
Traditional healers carry out the operation under poor sanitary conditions, often leading to severe complications which can be fatal. Despite massive opposition from the international community, a deep-rooted feeling of social obligation causes this practice to survive. It is difficult to speak openly about this topic in many societies.
“Female genital mutilation and circumcision is a violation of a girl’s rights to health, well-being and self-determination,” said Geeta Rao Gupta, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director. “The challenge now is to let girls and women, boys and men speak out loudly and clearly and announce they want this harmful practice abandoned.”
The International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilations helps raise awarness about the dangers of circumcision, thus increasing opposition towards it in the countries where it is practiced.
