16 Days Campaign Day 2
Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

FGM also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is the ritual cutting or removal of some, or all of the external female genitalia. The practice is rooted in gender inequality, attempts to control women's sexuality, and ideas about purity.

Fatima’s story

Fatima lives in Somalia with her family where she attends a school nearby. Her mother is a seamstress. Fatima, at 6 years of age, had a visit from her grandmother. All was pre-arranged and Fatima didn’t know what was happening. ‘They held my shoulders and knees, and I started crying and trying to close my legs. It was very terrible. I can never forget that.  I was at home for seven days with acute pain in the area they cut. Don’t do this to your daughters!’  (Source: www.unicef.org/somalia)

Click here to view Leaflet for Day 2