According to a report by the human rights organisation "Russian Justice Initiative": ten of thousands of girls aged between 3 months to 10 years are being cut in the Republic of Dagestan, a remote mountain area in the North Caucasus.
The inhuman procedure has been taking place within the Dagestan community for years without being checked by authorities. The procedure is done in order to "curb a woman's sexuality". There is no specific law that bans FGM, but it is still considered illegal under article 111: causing serious harm to human health. Since the report on FGM in Dagestan a bill against FGM has been drafted.
As so often FGM in Dagestan is linked to the lack of rights for women, including their low status within the community and their limited work opportunities.
There is not only an urgent need for a law against FGM but also for becoming aware of the serious deficit regarding women's rights.
