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3Ws: WHERE, WHO, & WHY

FGM/C cases have been reported in western countries including the U.S., Australia, U.K, France, Italy, Germany...

Who's Doing It and How?

 

Medical Setting

  •   Performed by licensed clinicians.

Non Medical Setting

  • Performed by a circumciser with no medical training.

  • Tools are knives, scissors, broken glass, and razor blades.

  • Anesthetics and antiseptics are not generally used.

  • The instruments are not sterilized.

  • Same tool is used on a group of girls.

Ages

  • Ages are generally from 7-10.

Some of the justifications

Justifications

Reasons are diverse, more often related to tradition and/or gender inequality.

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  • Decrease sexual sensitivity.

  • Preserve virginity/chastity.

  • Social acceptance/sense of belonging.

  • Hygiene/cleanliness.

  • Family honor.

  • Rite of passage for marriage.

  • Morality and fidelity.

  • Aesthetics/beauty.

Source: World Health Organization, 2019

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