Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a form of “honour” based abuse. FGM is when a female’s genitals are deliberately altered or removed for non-medical reasons. It’s also known as ‘female circumcision’ or ‘cutting’, and has many other names. It is most commonly carried out on young girls, although it can also happen to women, for example in advance of marriage.

FGM is illegal and it is an abuse of human rights. FGM has no health benefits and it has many severe and long lasting social, psychological and physical harmful consequences. There is a risk of hemorrhage and sepsis during the procedure, which is often carried out in unhygienic conditions and FGM can lead to difficulties in childbirth and sexual expression in later life.

Focus on FGM is sometimes incorrectly limited to certain African communities, however it has been recorded as being practiced by some Middle Eastern communities, including by some Egyptian, Iraqi, Sudanese, Yemeni, Kurdish and Iranian communities.

IKWRO plays a crucial role in ensuring that the government and statutory authorities recognise that FGM happens within MENA communities and in tackling the harmful practice within the MENA diaspora. We safeguard and educate against FGM and we support survivors who are suffering from the lifelong harms it causes. 

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