The global figure in the FGM statistical report by UNICEF includes nearly 70 million (!) more girls and women than estimated previously:
At least 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM.
This is due to population growth in some countries and nationally representative data collected by the Government of Indonesia.
According to the UNICEF report half of the girls and women who have been cut live in three countries: Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia. The country with the highest prevalence among girls and women aged 15-49 is Somalia with 98%.
But FGM is a global rights issue affecting girls and women in every region of the world.
Determining the magnitude of FGM is is essential to eliminating the practice, even though new findings may be horrible and shocking.
Data also indicate widespread disapproval of the practice as the majority of people in countries where FGM data exists think this should end.
As long as not everyone is convinced that FGM is a horrible crime against women and a violation of children’s rights, as long as there is any tolerance against FGM, it will go on and the number of girls and women subjected to FGM may even increase.
Let’s fight against it!
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