In Mauritania, the National Association of Midwives has publicly declared their opposition to FGM and their pledge to abandon the practice in the communities they serve. Photo credit: UNFPA Mauritania
Today is UN Zero
Tolerance of FGM Day. An estimated 140 million women and girls have suffered
FGM, an excruciating and dangerous procedure which has serious life-long health
effects.
While
most of these are in Africa, global migration has ensured Ireland is not immune
to the practice. Based on population and migration trends, it is estimated that
more than 3,700 women in Ireland have undergone FGM in their country of origin.
Yet
awareness remains low, with 65 per cent of GPs in one survey saying they were
unable to identify symptoms.
Up
to a dozen women have been treated at the first dedicated clinic for sufferers
of female genital mutilation (FGM) since it opened last year.
Most
have required surgical intervention to deal with the health problems caused by
the procedure, according to Dr Caitríona Henchion, medical director of theIrish Family Planning Association’s FGM clinic in Dublin.
View on UN website: International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation - UN
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