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People are calling to end Female Genital Mutilation in Ireland

This is primarily due to a recent legal action of FGM/C among Bohras in Australia and United States of America and the absence of an anti-FGM law in India.

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The truth is that female genital mutilation is harmful to girls and women, to their communities and to the nation. FGM is a complex and hidden issue, and there is no single solution to ending the practice.

The group claimed that its members were campaigning in Rajkot, Mumbai, Indore and Ahmedabad to spread awareness on FGM, adding that it was “strongly against FGM or any practice or act that demeans, oppresses or subjugates women”.

Rempel has been advocating that FGM be described as a crime in the guide since the summer, when the Canadian Press reported that a draft version of the guide had dropped the line stating “barbaric cultural practices”, such as FGM and honour killings, are illegal in Canada.

Kamau said women should be able to choose to undergo the practice.

“It can be because of these historic beliefs victims feel peer pressure from friends and family, who make them feel isolated or unclean for not complying with the procedure”.

The UN deems that the female genital mutilation (FGM) involving the adjustment of or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons is an internationally recognised violation of the human rights of girls and women.

The women surveyed were aged between 17 and 89 years. Further, 97 per cent women, who had undergone khatna, recalled the experience from childhood as “painful”.

The detailed study was conducted by independent researchers Lakshmi Anantnarayan, Shabana Diler and Natasha Menon along with WeSpeakOut, a coalition of Bohra women against FGM and the women’s rights organisation Nari Samata Manch. It can cause serious health problems.

Many Kenyans took to Social Media to voice their criticism. She travels to areas where the practice is most prevalent. “Silence on this is a tacit endorsement”, she said.

“Women who have undergone genital mutilation can experience complications during childbirth, including postpartum haemorrhage, stillbirth and early neonatal death In addition to its physical risks, FGM/C is a violation of girls’ and women’s fundamental human rights”.

The government in Egypt has followed a holistic approach to end FGM, adopting a prevention and response agenda.

“It downplays the structural violence behind the practice”, she told DW. Currently, FGM is banned in over 20 countries alone in Africa.

An estimated 4 million girls – and women – are at risk of being mutilated in 2018.

Meanwhile, Kenyans continue to voice their criticism of the “doctor” fighting in court.

Speaking to the Star on Monday, CEO Bernadette Loloju said communities are now practising FGM at night as opposed to previous years when it would be marked as big celebrations during the day.

FGM is performed in an attempt to control a female’s sexual desires.

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While thousands of communities are saying no, some, including in the medical services, are saying yes and taking us backwards.

Girls must be able to live freely and fearlessly - not under the shadow of FGM