Fewer girls subjected to life-threatening female genital mutilation
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A women’s group uses drama to discourage the practice of FGM/C
Fewer girls are subjected to the life-threatening practice of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), according to new data from the United Nations, released Wednesday on the International Day of Zero Tolerance of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting.
The data shows that FGM/C is becoming less prevalent overall and the younger generation is less vulnerable to the practice.
In the 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East, where the practice of FGM/C is concentrated, on average, 36 per cent of girls aged 15-19 have been cut compared to an estimated 53 per cent of women aged 45-49.
Executive Director of UN Population Fund – UNFPA, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin says efforts to stop the practice are progressing well.
“ We have in the last few years been able to work with member States, communities within those member states, civil society organisations, professionals to stop the practice in a large number of communities in 2012 alone. We were able to stop it in about 1, 800 communities in the world.”
The decline is particularly sharp in some countries: in Kenya, for example, women aged 45-49 are three times more likely to have been cut than girls aged 15-19.
Donn Bobb, United Nations.
Duration: 1’19″
