Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is also known as female circumcision or cutting. Despite the religious, social, or cultural justifications sometimes offered, FGM is illegal because it poses serious health risks and causes lasting physical and emotional harm.
There are no medical benefits to FGM; it neither enhances fertility nor makes childbirth safer. It may be used to control female sexuality. The procedure is typically performed without medical training or anesthesia, using instruments like knives, scissors, or razor blades. Even partial procedures can lead to severe health complications for girls and women.
The prevalence of FGM is difficult to ascertain due to its clandestine nature, but it's estimated that 137,000 women and girls in England and Wales are affected. Since 1985, FGM has been a criminal offense in the UK, with additional penalties for UK nationals or residents who take their child abroad for the procedure.
