Do they still do female circumcision in Africa?
More than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where FGM is practiced(1). FGM is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15. FGM is a violation of the human rights of girls and women.
Where is FGM most prevalent in Africa?
FGM is practiced in 31 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. It’s most prevalent in Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, and Mali, where 90% or more of women aged 15 to 49 have been subjected to FGM.
Where is FGM legal in Africa?
– Half of all girls who have undergone FGM or are at risk live in three countries – Egypt, Ethiopia and Nigeria – all of which have laws against FGM. – Chad, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Sudan, which are home to 16 million girls, have no law, meaning FGM is still effectively legal.
What countries is FGM legal in?
Laws by country
| Country | Criminalised | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda | Specific anti-FGM law : 22 | |
| United Arab Emirates | No | |
| United Kingdom | Specific anti-FGM law : 26 | 1985 |
| United States | Federal anti-FGM law Specific bans in 40 states | 96–18, 2021 |
How common is FGM in Africa?
The UN estimates that 200 million women and girls around the world have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM), with 80 per cent of cases occurring in Africa. The impact of Covid-19 has made some of the statistics on FGM even worse.
What age is breast ironing?
Breast ironing is one of five UN defined ‘forgotten crimes against women’. It is a practice whereby the breasts of girls typically aged 8-16 are pounded using tools such as spatulas, grinding stones, hot stones, and hammers to delay the appearance of puberty.