Female Genital Mutilation

Arundhati Parida, SOA National Institute of Law, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

ABSTRACT

FGM describes practices that include removing external female genitalia entirely or in part, as well as other injury to the female genital organs done for non-medical reasons. Although it is usually done on girls between the ages of one and fifteen, married women and adult women are also occasionally subjected to this procedure. Despite national and international efforts to encourage its discontinuation, FGM is nevertheless prevalent in a number of places of the world. In Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, FGM is a common practice. Thousands of women and girls worldwide are impacted by FGM. It can impact any woman or girl in the United Kingdom, regardless of age, nationality, race, social class, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation.

FGM is illegal, in contrast to male circumcision, which is legal in the UK. Girls' and women's health is not improved by FGM. Medical professionals consider the practice to be extremely risky. It is therefore recognized as a form of violence directed on women and girls.

Keywords: Female genital mutilation, women, protection, legal