Definition
In 1997, the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations (UN) agencies issued a joint statement that established the internationally recognized definition of FGC as all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons (WHO et al. 1997, p. 3).
FGC is a harmful traditional practice that adversely affects the health of millions of women and girls each year. There are no health benefits to FGC. FGC is a violation of the human rights of women and girls.
Description
Types
The WHO has identified four types of FGC. These classifications are widely recognized by international and civil society organizations (WHO 2011, p. 3):
- 1.
Clitoridectomy: Partial or total removal of the clitoris (a small, sensitive, and erectile part of the female genitals) and, in very rare...
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References
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Melching, M. (2023). Female Genital Cutting. In: Maggino, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17299-1_1030
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