It saddens me to know that there are women in the world today, that must endure many human rights violations perpetrated by men and religious beliefs. From a womans' "place" in the home to the burka, FGM is a very cruel and excruciating practice that women suffer and more needs to be done to eliminate it.

So when claims are made to the fact that women have the same rights as men; (maybe in this country, maybe), but as a whole it's not even close. Read the content below regarding just ONE of many violations against women.

Resources:

Amnesty International
Demographic Health Surveys (DHS)
UNICEF
USAID
US Dept. of State
World Health Organization

DEFINITIONS OF TYPES OF FGC/FC :

Type I – Circumcision is the excision (removal) of the prepuce (clitoral hood) with or without removal of a part of the clitoris (a.k.a. sunna circumcision). 

Type II – Excision or clitoridectomy is the excision of the clitoris together with part or all of the labia minora (the inner vaginal lips).

Type III – Infibulation is the excision of part or all of the external genitalia (clitoris, labia minora and labia majora) and stitching or narrowing of the vaginal opening, leaving a very small opening, about the size of a matchstick, to allow for the flow of urine and menstrual blood.  The girl or woman’s legs are generally bound together from the hip to the ankle so she remains immobile for approximately 40 days to allow for the formation of scar tissue (referred to as Sudanese circumcision in Egypt; referred to as Pharaonic circumcision in Somalia).

Type IV – Unclassified includes the pricking, piercing or incision of the clitoris and/or labia; also includes symbolic rituals. The application or insertion of corrosive substances into the vagina is also considered Type IV.

Defibulation  or deinfibulation – Cutting open the scar tissue that has formed around the vaginal opening to allow penetration by her husband or for the birth of a child.

Refibulation or reinfibulation or recircumcision – The sewing up of a circumcised woman’s vaginal opening after childbirth or periodically during her life when she feels as though her opening has gotten too big or loose.

Alternative rituals – An alternative to FGM in which the traditional ceremony takes place without the actual cutting.  In Kenya, girls go through a week-long program designed as a coming-of-age workshop.  This ritual is called “Ntanira Na Mugambo” or “Circumcision Through Words.”
 
Introcision – A form of FGM/C that is practiced by the Pitta-Patta aborigines of Australia where the vaginal orifice is enlarged by tearing it downward with three fingers bound with an opossum string.  The procedure is performed by an elderly man when the girl reaches puberty.  In other districts, the perineum is split with a stone knife.  Compulsory sexual intercourse with a number of young men usually follows the introcision.  Mexico, Brazil, and Peru reportedly practice this form of FGM/C.  In Peru, among a division of Pano Indians, an elderly woman uses a bamboo knife to cut around the hymen from the vaginal entrance and severs the hymen from the labia, at the same time exposing the clitoris.  Medicinal herbs are applied, followed by the insertion of a phallic clay object into the vagina.

Resources: Ipu.org
US Dept. of State
Womenaid.org

Amnesty International
Demographic Health Surveys (DHS)
UNICEF
USAID
US Dept. of State
World Health Organization

 

Click on link to view percentages by countries and other information.

http://www.fgmnetwork.org/intro/fgmintro.php